DURANGO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team struggled offensively on Saturday afternoon as they dropped a pair of low scoring games against Fort Lewis College.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 1, FLC 3 | Game 2: UCCS 0, FLC 4
Records: UCCS (16-14, 14-8 RMAC), FLC (8-23, 8-14 RMAC)
Location: Aspen Field | Durango, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions fall to 42-41 all-time against the Skyhawks
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions and Skyhawks engaged in a pitcher's duel to begin the first game of the four-game set as both teams were held scoreless through the opening four innings.
- UCCS had multiple opportunities to score early in the game against Skyhawks pitcher Amiee Shanks, putting runners on second and third in the top of the first inning and loading the bases in the third inning, but were unable to capitalize on the baserunners as they remained scoreless.
- Fortunately for the Mountain Lions, redshirt junior Braelyne Crenshaw matched Shanks on the rubber, breezing through the Fort Lewis lineup to keep the Skyhawks off the board for the first four innings.
- The Skyhawks would manufacture a run to get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fifth inning when Taya Opheim recorded a one-out single and stole second base before scoring on a single by Katie Pippel to break the scoreless tie.
- After freshman Paige White got on base with a two-out single in the top of the sixth, pinch-runner Brianna Jennings stole second base and came around to tie the game at one on a pop up to short left field by Peyton Reisman that was botched by the Skyhawks shortstop. A single by Courtnie Heller and a walk by Briana Mattos loaded the bases for the Mountain Lions with two outs, but a groundout to the pitcher by Bryn Horton ended the inning with the game still tied.
- With runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Crenshaw induced a fly ball down the right field line that hit off the glove of Horton and allowed both runners to come around to score, giving the Skyhawks a 3-1 lead.
- The Mountain Lions would get a leadoff single by Morgan Hernandez-Belew to begin their comeback effort in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout by Mia Perez and a double play ball off the bat of Solana Martinez ended the game with Fort Lewis taking it by a score of 3-1.
STATS FROM GAME ONE
- UCCS was limited to just six hits as FLC starting pitcher Amiee Shanks was in control for much of the game, pitching seven innings while allowing just one unearned run.
- Hernandez-Belew posted a multi-hit game with two hits in her four trips to the plate.
- Crenshaw (5-8) was solid inside the circle but took a tough-luck loss after allowing three runs (one earned) across six innings pitched and fanning eight Skyhawk batters. The complete game effort was the ninth of the season for the redshirt junior pitcher.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The second game of the doubleheader had a similar beginning script as game one with neither team managing to get anything going offensively through the first four innings of the game.
- The Skyhawks once again got the scoring started in the bottom of the fifth inning when center fielder Hannah Rutherford connected for a three-run home run to left field to put the Skyhawks ahead 3-0.
- Fort Lewis extended their lead to 4-0 with another run in the bottom of the sixth after sophomore Cat Rodman drove a double to the left-center field gap to bring home sophomore Kamie Matsukawa.
- Freshman Hailee Mann held the Mountain Lions scoreless in the bottom of the seventh to finish off the complete game shutout and secure the second win of the day for the Skyhawks, 4-0.
STATS FROM GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions were frustrated throughout the game by Mann as they were able to muster just four hits against the freshman pitcher.
- Martinez recorded half of UCCS' hits in game two, going 2-for-3 with a triple.
- Junior Lexi Rayburn (7-4) got the start inside the circle for UCCS in game two and allowed three earned runs in five innings to take the loss.
- Gabrielle Cronin pitched the sixth inning for the Mountain Lions, allowing two hits and one run in her lone inning of work.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Solana Martinez reached base safely in both games against Fort Lewis today to extend her on-base streak to 13 consecutive games.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will look to get back on track tomorrow as they get set to finish their series against Fort Lewis with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. from Aspen Field.
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
