PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team split a pair of tight games against Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday afternoon, dropping the first game 5-4 before rebounding to claim a 3-2 victory in the second game of the day.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 4, CSUP 5 | Game 2: UCCS 3, CSUP 2
Records: UCCS (24-22, 22-16 RMAC), CSUP (21-22, 17-21 RMAC)
Location: CSUP Rawlings Softball Complex | Pueblo, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 54-58 all-time against the ThunderWolves and 13-5 since the 2017 season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE

• CSU Pueblo got on the scoreboard first with a pair of unearned runs coming around to score on a two-RBI single by outfielder Seaerra Fuentes Arellano in the bottom of the second inning before they extended their lead to 3-0 with a leadoff home run by Isabel Griego in the bottom of the third inning.
• After being shut down through the first four innings by CSUP starting pitcher Sophia Lishner, the Mountain Lion's offense woke up in the top of the fifth inning to rally for three runs and tie the game. With one out in the inning, sophomore Mia Perez started off the rally with a double to left field and was brought around to score on an RBI single by junior Solana Martinez. Redshirt junior Sawyer Brewster and freshman Paige White then followed with back-to-back hits of their own to bring in two more runs and even the game at three.
• The ThunderWolves regained their advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning as a leadoff home run by Katelynn Ralston pushed the game to 4-3 in the advantage of CSU Pueblo. Another run would come across in the inning on some savvy baserunning by the Pack to extend their lead to 5-3.
• A one-out home run by White would get the Mountain Lions within one run and singles by Peyton Reisman and Cassidy Hubner put the tying and go-ahead runs on base with two outs, but CSU Pueblo managed to record the final out and slip away with a tight 5-4 win to open the series.  

STATS FROM GAME ONE

• The middle of the UCCS order was firing on all cylinders in the series opener as Martinez, Brewster and Reisman combined to record six of the Mountain Lion's ten hits.
• The home run for White was her 11^th of the season as she led the team with two RBIs in the game.
• Redshirt junior Braelyne Crenshaw got the start for the Mountain Lions and pitched her 13^th complete game of the season as she allowed five runs (two earned) across six innings pitched with six strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO

• White carried her strong day into the second game of the doubleheader as she unloaded a bases-loaded single in the top of the first that brought home a pair of runs and gave the Mountain Lions an early 2-0 lead.
• CSU Pueblo answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own as a two-RBI double by Delaney Barela evened the game at two apiece.
• Sophomore Mia Perez and the Mountain Lions manufactured a run in the top half of the third as Perez led off the inning with a walk and quickly advanced to second on a passed ball. After Martinez moved her to third with a fly ball out, Perez took advantage of a wild pitch to score the third run of the afternoon for UCCS.
• Three runs would be all UCCS starting pitcher Lexi Rayburn needed, as she pitched six consecutive scoreless innings after allowing the two runs in the first inning to help UCCS split the doubleheader with a 3-2 win in game two.

STATS FROM GAME TWO

• The Mountain Lions recorded four hits in the second game of the day, White, Hubner, Morgan Hernandez-Belew, and Bryn Horton each getting one.
• White also had the only two RBIs of the game while the top three hitters in the UCCS lineup, Hernandez-Belew, Perez, and Martinez each scored one run.
• Inside the circle, Rayburn threw an exceptional seven inning complete game as she allowed just two earned runs and struck out seven batters to earn her ninth win of the season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Martinez's multi-hit game in the series opener marks her team-leading 15^th game this season recording two or more hits.

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will close out their regular season tomorrow afternoon with another doubleheader against the ThunderWolves beginning at 11 a.m.

SOCIAL
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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.  
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