PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team split Monday's doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands University, earning a hard-fought 3-2 win in their first game of the day before dropping a 12-0 run-rule decision in game two. With their win in game one, UCCS secured a series win over the Cowgirls to open their conference schedule.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 3, NMHU 2 | Game 2: UCCS 0, NMHU 12 (5 Innings)
Records: UCCS (6-7, 3-1 RMAC), NMHU (5-4, 1-3 RMAC)
Location: Runyon Sports Complex | Pueblo, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 69-52 all-time against the Cowgirls.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- Coming off a complete game shutout of the Cowgirls in the first game of the series, sophomore Autumn Kunze was back inside the circle to start the third game of the set on Monday, and she picked up right where she left off as she allowed just a walk in an otherwise clean top of the first inning. UCCS got their offense started quickly in the home half of the frame with sophomore Alyssa Gutierrez hitting a leadoff double and freshman Laynee Case reaching base on an error to put runners on the corners with nobody out. After a strikeout of Lexi Wagner, freshman Gianna Pancost laced a ball into the left center field gap that brought Gutierrez and Case around to score, giving the Mountain Lions a 2-0 advantage after one inning of play.
- Both teams would be kept off the scoreboard in the second and third innings, but the Cowgirls struck for their first two runs of the game in the top of the fourth frame to bring the game even. Kunze retired the first two batters of the inning, but allowed back-to-back two out singles to Jazmyn Griego and Allessandra De La Trinidad before Gabrielle Varela launched a double off the left field fence to plate both runners.
- In the bottom half of the fourth inning, freshman Katelyn Kilgore singlehandedly helped UCCS regain their advantage as she led off the frame with a line drive to the right center field gap. Kilgore displayed some aggressive baserunning as she rounded second base and headed for third with the Cowgirls attempting to relay the ball back to the infield. The throw from NMHU shortstop Dioni Lincoln would skip away from the third base bag and out of play, which allowed Kilgore to come home and score the go-ahead run, giving UCCS a 3-2 lead.
- Sophomore Kailey Bond, who had entered the game inside the circle at the start of the fifth inning for the Mountain Lions, controlled the game the rest of the way as she went on to toss two more clean innings in the sixth and seventh innings to help UCCS secure a tight 3-2 victory and clinch a series win over the Cowgirls.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- Despite the victory, UCCS managed just four baserunners in the ballgame with Gutierrez, Pancost, Kilgore, and Izzy Giroux each recording one hit.
- Pancost also paced the Mountain Lions with a pair of RBIs coming on her double in the first inning.
- Kunze drew the start inside the circle for UCCS and went on to allow two earned runs across four innings pitched. The second-year pitcher surrendered three hits and two walks across her outing while striking out four hitters.
- Bond (2-1) pitched three shutout innings in relief of Kunze to earn her second win of the season as she allowed just three hits and punched out two batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Cowgirls jumped all over the Mountain Lions from the start in the fourth and final game of the series as the first four hitters in the top of the first inning reached base safely against UCCS pitcher Caydee Farnworth. Unlike yesterday, Farnworth was unable to escape the early traffic on the basepaths as NMHU went on to record five hits in the inning to grab a 4-0 lead before the Mountain Lions had stepped to the plate.
- NMHU would add another run to their lead in the top of the second inning, but it was an offensive explosion in the visitor half of the third inning that put the game largely out of reach for the Mountain Lions. The Cowgirls took advantage of three walks in the third frame while adding three hits to plate five additional runs and jump out to a 10-0 lead after just two and a half innings.
- On the offensive side, UCCS was stifled by NMHU starting pitcher Maya Milano, who recorded five shutout innings and allowed just four hits while leading the Cowgirls to a 12-0 run-rule victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS tallied just four hits in the final game of the series, but saw a strong collegiate debut from freshman Emily Arrellano, who recorded singles in each of her plate appearances.
- Freshman Hailey Busshart also provided a sliver line on the offensive end as she reached base in both of her plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with a single and a walk.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- A freshman from Tucson, Ariz., Pancost put together a strong week at the dish for the Mountain Lions, posting a .429 batting average (6-for-14) with three doubles, four RBIs, and two walks across six games started to help UCCS to a 4-2 overall record and a 3-1 series win over NMHU.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will continue their conference slate next weekend with a four-game home series against Black Hills State University on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-25, 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 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
