CHADRON, Neb. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team split Friday's series-opening doubleheader at Chadron State College with
Autumn Kunze pitching the Mountain Lions to a 3-1 victory in game one before the Eagles claimed game two by a score of 4-1.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 3, CSC 1 | Game 2: UCCS 1, CSC 4
Records: UCCS (10-9, 7-3 RMAC), CSC (4-16, 4-6 RMAC)
Location: CSC Softball Field | Chadron, Neb.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 25-26 all-time against the Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The opening game of the four-game set featuring the Mountain Lions and Eagles saw Chadron State get on the board first in the bottom half of the first frame with Ashland Baca cashing in one run on an RBI double against UCCS starting pitcher Autumn Kunze. Now trailing by a run with still just one out in the inning and runners on second and third base, Kunze did well to escape the remainder of the inning unscathed as she induced a ground ball to third base and got a fly out to left field that ended the frame.
- UCCS put together a small rally in the top half of the third inning that saw Maddie Unrein draw a walk before a single from Alyssa Gutierrez put runners on first and second base with just one out. After a sacrifice bunt by Laynee Case moved the runners to second and third, Gianna Pancost came through with an RBI single through the left side of the infield that brought Unrein across the plate for the tying run.
- With the score still tied at one in the top of the fifth inning, the Mountain Lion offense broke through against CSC starting pitcher Tori Haug as Unrein led off the frame with a deep home run over the left field fence that gave UCCS their first lead of the day, 2-1. Following the home run, Case sparked another run scoring opportunity with a single to right field and was eventually brought across to score on a two-out, RBI single from Hailey Busshart that extended the advantage to 3-1.
- Now holding a two-run lead, Kunze made quick work of the Eagles in the fifth and sixth innings before Chadron State put together some traffic in the bottom half of the seventh inning in their final opportunity to extend the game. A one-out single by Brady Laucomer and hit-by-pitch of Angelina Quezada put the tying run on first base, but Kunze managed to secure the final two outs of the ballgame to finish off the 3-1 victory to open the series.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions outhit the Eagles 7-to-5 in the series-opener with Pancost recording a pair of hits in three trips to the plate.
- Unrein also had a strong game at the plate as she went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI, two runs scored, and her first home run of the season.
- Inside the circle, Kunze (6-2) tossed her sixth complete game of the season, allowing just one earned run across seven innings pitched to earn her sixth win of the campaign. The sophomore pitcher surrendered just five hits and three walks across her outing while striking out five batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Following a quick inning on the offensive end in the top of the first inning for the Mountain Lions, UCCS starting pitcher Kailey Bond ran into trouble in the home half of the frame with an RBI double by Ashland Baca and a two-RBI double from Mackenzi Kroll giving Chadron State an early 3-0 lead.
- Bond found herself in another tricky situation in the bottom of the second inning with a single, walk, and hit batter loading the bases for the Eagles with two outs. Bond would escape the inning without any damage, however, as she got Baca to ground into a fielder's choice out to second base to end the frame.
- The Mountain Lions managed to get one of the runs back in their half of the third inning as Izzy Giroux and Gutierrez both singled to put a couple of runners on base for Case, who lined a single to center field that brought home a run and cut the UCCS deficit to 3-1.
- In the bottom of the fourth inning, Bond once again put herself in a difficult spot as a pair of singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for the Eagles with just one out in the frame. The sophomore pitcher would be unable to escape the inning unscathed this time as she issued a bases-loaded walk to the next hitter that brought home a run and put Chadron State ahead 4-1, however, she did retire the next two CSC batters to keep the deficit at three runs.
- Holding a 4-1 lead, Chadron State starting pitcher Kenzi Garner allowed just two hits over the final three innings of the ballgame and kept UCCS off the scoreboard to secure a split of the doubleheader.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions and Eagles matched each other with eight hits apiece in game two of the doubleheader.
- Pancost and Gutierrez both posted 2-for-4 lines at the plate, with both players recording one double apiece.
- Case logged the lone RBI of the ballgame for the Mountain Lions with her single in the third inning.
- Bond (4-2) took her second loss of the season after allowing four earned runs across four innings pitched. Caydee Farnworth tossed the final two innings of the ballgame and kept the Eagles scoreless with a pair of strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With a pair of multi-hit games today, Pancost now leads the team with six on the season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will close their series against the Eagles tomorrow with another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. from CSC Softball 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.
