LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team earned a doubleheader split to close their series against New Mexico Highlands University on Sunday as they suffered a 5-1 defeat in the first game before claiming a 6-4 victory in game two to take three of four games in the series against the Cowgirls.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Game One: UCCS 1, NMHU 5 | Final Game Two: UCCS 6, NMHU 4
Records: UCCS (6-7, 3-1 RMAC), NMHU (5-7, 1-3 RMAC)
Location: NMHU Cowgirl Softball Field | Las Vegas, N.M.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 29-10 all-time against the Cowgirls, although the game one defeat snapped a six-game winning streak dating back to last season.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- Coming off a strong start to the series against the Cowgirls with a pair of wins yesterday, the Mountain Lions opened the first inning of the third game of the series with three of the first four batters reaching base via walk or hit by pitch, resulting in an early bases loaded situation with one out in the inning. NMHU pitcher Arianna Ramirez would quickly regain her control, however, as she went on to strike out the next two UCCS hitters to end the inning and keep the Mountain Lions off the scoreboard.
- In the bottom of the second inning, Ramirez made her impact known in the batter's box as she led off the frame with a solo home run against UCCS starter Braelyne Crenshaw that gave the Cowgirls a 1-0 lead. Crenshaw would take control of the inning after the home run, striking out three of the next four hitters to keep the deficit at just one run.
- Following a scoreless third inning, the Cowgirls added to their advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning as a double off the bat of catcher Alice Midiri brought home two runs to push the NMHU lead to three. Two more runs would come in to score after an error at first base extended the inning as the Cowgirls took a 5-0 lead.
- UCCS would chip into the NMHU advantage in the top half of the fifth inning when outfielder Mia Perez led off the frame with a double to left center field and, after being moved to third base on a ground ball out by Morgan Hernandez-Belew, came in to score on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Paige White.
- Still trailing 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning, the Mountain Lions got their first two batters of the final inning on base with a double from Perez and a walk by Hernandez-Belew, but Ramirez would retire the next three Mountain Lion hitters to finish off a complete game effort and a win for the Cowgirls.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- UCCS managed just seven hits in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader as they matched their season low with just one run scored.
- Perez continued to swing a hot bat as she put together a 2-for-3 line with a pair of doubles.
- White recorded the lone RBI of the game for UCCS, going 0-for-2 with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly.
- Inside the circle, Crenshaw (1-4) tossed her second complete game of the season but took the loss as she allowed five runs (three earned) across six innings pitched with five strikeouts.
- Ramirez had a huge performance for the Cowgirls as she pitched seven innings on the rubber and allowed just one run with seven strikeouts while also contributing in the lineup with a 1-for-2 batting line and a home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Both teams would go scoreless in the first inning of the final game of the series, but NMHU managed to put together a rally in their half of the second inning as they scored the first run of the game on a bases loaded walk against UCCS pitcher Lexi Rayburn. A double from the next Cowgirl hitter would give NMHU a 3-0 lead and spell an early end to the outing for Rayburn, but freshman Autumn Kunze would enter the game inside the circle for UCCS and proceed to get the next two hitters out to keep the deficit at just three runs.
- After a pair of well-pitched innings by Kunze and NMHU pitcher Maya Milano, the Mountain Lions finally got their bats working in the top of the fifth inning as a single by Perez set the table for back-to-back doubles from White and Courtnie Heller that cut the UCCS deficit to 3-2. Lexi Wagner would step up to the plate next for the Mountain Lions and went on to blast a two-run home run to left field that gave UCCS their first lead of the day, 4-3.
- An RBI double from NMHU pitcher Milano would bring the game even at four runs apiece in the bottom half of the fifth, but UCCS quickly reclaimed a lead as Heller came through with a two-out double to left center field that scored a pair of runs and gave UCCS a 6-4 lead.
- Kunze would continue to pitch well over the final two innings of play as she held the Cowgirls scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings to secure a 6-4 win and clinch a series win.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lion's offense bounced back in game two of the doubleheader to record 15 hits and six runs.
- Six different UCCS players recorded two hits in the game, including Perez, White, Heller, Wagner, Molly Sherwood, and Kelsey Bell.
- Heller and White each recorded a pair of doubles, while Heller also led the team with her three RBIs.
- Wagner tallied the lone home run of the day for the Mountain Lions, marking her sixth long ball of the season.
- After her stellar outing yesterday, Rayburn struggled inside the circle in this afternoon's ballgame as she only lasted 1.1 innings while giving up three earned runs.
- Kunze (2-1) entered the game in the second inning and went on to earn the win after pitching 5.2 innings while allowing just one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With two more RBIs in game two of today's doubleheader, Wagner currently leads the team with 17 on the season. Three additional Mountain Lion players have recorded double digit RBIs, including Heller (14), Perez (11), and White (10).
- UCCS received strong performances inside the circle from their freshman duo of Ella Ebert and Kunze during the series with NMHU as the two first-year pitchers combined to allow just one earned run across 9.2 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions return home next weekend for a four-game conference set against Metropolitan State University Denver with the first game of the series kicking off at 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24 from Mountain Lion 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.
