COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team dropped their doubleheader against Chadron State College on Sunday at Mountain Lion Field, suffering an 8-1 setback in the first game and an 11-3 run-rule loss in the second game.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Game One: UCCS 1, CSC 8 | Final Game Two: UCCS 3, CSC 11 (5 innings)
Records: UCCS (13-34, 10-28 RMAC), CSC (24-23, 22-18 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: UCCS falls to 24-25 all-time against the Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- After hitting a total of seven home runs in yesterday's games, Chadron State picked up right where they left off with Lauren Zimmerman launching a solo home run in the top of the first inning to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
- In the bottom half of the frame, junior Maddie Unrein evened the game up at one run apiece as she lifted a solo home run of her own over the left field fence for her seventh long ball of the season.
- Following three scoreless innings from both sides that kept the game tied at one through the end of the fourth inning, the Eagles benefited from more offense off the bat of Zimmerman as she hit a two-out, RBI double to help her team regain a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning.
- Chadron State broke the game open in the top of the sixth inning, using seven hits to bring five runners across the plate and take a 7-1 lead. A solo home run from Jessie Henchenski in the top of the seventh inning would stretch the Eagles' lead to 8-1, and unfortunately for the Mountain Lions, CSC starting pitcher Tori Haug managed to hold UCCS scoreless after the first inning home run from Unrein to secure the victory in the third game of the series.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions could only muster two hits in the game against Haug, including Unrein's home run and a single off the bat of Courtnie Heller.
- UCCS also drew two walks in the ballgame, with one coming from Morgan Hernandez-Belew and the other from Lexi Wagner.
- Redshirt senior Braelyne Crenshaw started for the Mountain Lions inside the circle and suffered her 16th loss of the season as she allowed seven hits and five earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched while striking out five batters.
- Sophomore Mackenzie Rutkoff tossed the final 1.2 innings of the game for UCCS, surrendering three earned runs with five hits allowed.
- Haug was excellent on the rubber for Chadron State, tossing seven complete innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out eight Mountain Lion hitters.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- For the fourth consecutive game in the series, Chadron State found their way onto the scoreboard first, this time putting a three-spot on the board in the top of the first inning to grab an early 3-0 advantage.
- After a home run from Eagles' infielder Brady Laucomer extended Chadron State's lead to 4-0 in the top of the second inning, UCCS chipped into the deficit in the home half of the frame with Solana Martinez driving a double off the center field wall that brought home one run and cut the score to 4-1.
- The Eagles continued their strong offensive attack in the top of the third inning, however, as four of the first five batters in the frame reached base, leading to two more runs and extending their advantage to 6-1.
- Following another two-run inning from Chadron State in the top of the fourth inning that made it an 8-1 ballgame, UCCS sophomore Kelsey Bell lined a run-scoring double to left field, cutting the deficit to six runs.
- A three-run home run from Zimmerman in the top of the fifth inning effectively put the game out of reach for the Mountain Lions as Chadron State finished the series sweep with an 11-3 run-rule win in five innings.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS tallied ten baserunners in the final game of the series, recording seven hits and three walks.
- Martinez, Bell, and Molly Sherwood each recorded one RBI in the game, accounting for the Mountain Lion's three runs.
- Senior Lexi Rayburn drew the start on the rubber for the Mountain Lions but had a tough outing as she was credited with her sixth loss of the season after allowing six earned runs across 2.1 innings pitched.
- Freshman Autumn Kunze relieved Rayburn out of the bullpen, tossing 2.2 innings while allowing five earned runs down the stretch.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will close out the 2023 season next weekend with a road series against Black Hills State University on April 28-29.
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.
