PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team traveled to Pueblo on Sunday, as inclement weather shifted their four-game series against Colorado Christian University to a neutral site. A solid offensive performance combined with excellent pitching propelled the tenth ranked Cougars to two victories.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 0, CCU 7 | Game 2: UCCS 0, CCU 9 (5 innings)
Records: UCCS (11-16, 8-10 RMAC), CCU (23-4, 15-3 RMAC)
Location: Rawlings Softball Complex | Pueblo, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions fall to 11-20 all-time against the Cougars.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE

• It was Autumn Kunze who was given the nod to kick off the four-game, neutral site series. Following a rough couple of outings last weekend, Kunze was locked in from the start. After surrendering a leadoff single, she retired the next three batters to end the inning unscathed. In the bottom half of the first inning, the Mountain Lions saw early action on the basepaths, as Jennavieve Goldsworth and Jacqueline Berkowitz each notched a single. A sacrifice bunt followed by a walk loaded the bases with two outs, but the Cougars were able to force a 4-3 putout, keeping the score knotted at zero after one inning.
• Kunze continued her early dominance, allowing only one hit over her next three innings of work. During that span, she struck out one batter and routinely forced weak contact throughout the Cougars lineup.
• The Mountain Lions had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third inning. Following an error that allowed Berkowitz to reach, Izzy Giroux roped a double into the left center gap, putting the pressure on the CCU pitching staff. UCCS would come away empty handed, as they recorded two outs in a row to end the inning.
• The tenth ranked Cougars found their bats to open up the top of the 5^th inning, as three out of the four batters reached safely to start the frame. A wild pitch and an RBI groundout saw two runs come across. After a Kayla Middleton double, Kunze was able to retire two Cougars in a row, aalthough CCU grabbed the first lead of the game, 2-0.
• A 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning swung momentum back in favor of UCCS. Giroux opened up the bottom half of the inning with her second double of the afternoon. However, CCU's Hannah Espinoza was able to work her way out of trouble, retiring the next three batters in order, preserving the Cougars lead.
• CCU blew the game open in the seventh inning. A solo homerun followed by a double forced the Mountain Lions to take Kunze out of the circle, replacing her with Caydee Farnworth. While Farnworth was able to serve up a double play with the bases loaded, a bases clearing double two batters later, followed by another RBI double ballooned the lead to 7-0. The Mountain Lions couldn't find their offense in the final inning, as they dropped game one by a score of 7-0.

STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE

• Giroux paced the Mountain Lions at the plate, going two for three with two extra base hits. Goldsworth also chipped in with two hits of her own.
• Kunze was solid in the circle, allowing four earned runs on seven hits. She also struck out two batters on the afternoon, issuing only one walk.
• Espinoza was lights out for the Cougars, as the freshman pitcher allowed on five hits over six scoreless innings. She struck out four batters and issued two walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO

• Kailey Bond started inside the circle for game two of Sunday's doubleheader and was immediately met with trouble. Back-to-back RBI doubles by the Cougars gave them the advantage to start the game. The second inning was almost identical, as another pair of consecutive RBI doubles put CCU in front 4-0.
• The Cougars continued their consistent offensive attack, scoring five runs over the next three innings. While none of their hits left the yard, seven of their ten hits went for extra bases, including two triples.
• The story of the game was CCU's Kaila Eastburn, who threw a complete game shutout, no-hitting the Mountain Lions in five innings. The only baserunners Eastburn saw were due to two walks and one hit-by-pitch. She struck out four UCCS batters and retired nine straight hitters between the 2^nd and 5^th inning. The Cougars took the final game of the day, winning 9-0.

STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO

• Gutierrez and Hailey Busshart each drew a walk, as they represented two of the three baserunners on the afternoon.
• Bond was credited with the loss, as she gave up seven runs (five earned runs) on nine hits, while tallying three strikeouts. Mackenzie Rutkoff pitched one inning out of the bullpen, surrendering one hit and allowing two earned runs.
• Middleton led the way offensively for the Cougars, as the leadoff hitter recorded a double and a triple with two RBI.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Mountain Lions' scoring drought continues, as they've scored only one run in their last five games.

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will be back in action tomorrow, as they wrap up their series against Colorado Christian at the neutral site venue and CSU Pueblo. First pitch will be at 11 a.m.

 
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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.  Read Full Article