DENVER, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team closed their four-game set against Metropolitan State University of Denver on Saturday evening as the Roadrunners completed the series sweep of the Mountain Lions with a 8-0 run-rule win in game one and a 7-4 win in game two.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 0, MSUD 8 (6 innings) | Game 2: UCCS 4, MSUD 7
Records: UCCS (11-22, 8-16 RMAC), MSUD (29-7, 22-2 RMAC)
Location: MSUD Assembly Athletic Complex | Denver, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions fall to 21-43 all-time against MSU Denver.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- UCCS starting pitcher Autumn Kunze ran into trouble early in game one of Saturday's doubleheader as Lexi Gephart smacked a one-out triple in the bottom of the first inning and was brought home on the very next batter with Shelby Robb hitting an RBI double to left center field. After a single from Miah Hartvigsen put a pair of runners on base with still just one out in the frame, Kunze managed to get a pair of infield pop-ups against the next two Roadrunner hitters to keep the damage at just one run.
- Following scoreless softball in the second and third innings from both teams, MSU Denver added to their advantage in the bottom half of the fourth frame as they put together five hits in the inning and plated three runs to push it to a 4-0 ballgame.
- MSU Denver kept the offense coming in the fifth and sixth innings as they plated one run in their half of the fifth and three more in the bottom of the sixth to finish off an 8-0 run-rule victory. For a second straight day, the Mountain Lions were unable to solve MSUD pitcher Jenna Medhus as she held UCCS scoreless across six innings inside the circle while allowing just four hits and striking out six hitters.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- Izzy Giroux tallied two of the Mountain Lions four hits in game one, while Berkowitz and Kilgore each recorded one hit.
- Kunze (6-8) drew the start and went on to surrender four earned runs on seven hits across 3.2 innings pitched. Kailey Bond finished the game inside the circle for UCCS, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing four earned runs on nine hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions put together a threat to get on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning of the series finale with Alyssa Gutierrez drawing a leadoff walk and quickly moving to second on a stolen base. A two-out infield single by Giroux would move Gutierrez to third base, but Jacquelynn Siefken grounded out on a bunt to end the inning, keeping the score at zeroes. With the momentum of holding off UCCS in the top of the frame, MSU Denver quickly found themselves on the board in the bottom half as Kami Grammerstorf led off the inning with a triple against UCCS pitcher Caydee Farnworth and was brought in to score on a sacrifice fly from Hannah DiFabio that gave the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.
- MSU Denver added to their advantage in the bottom half of the second inning with Aaliyah Arellano and Jaiden Geist hitting back-to-back doubles to score another run and push their lead to 2-0. The Roadrunners would tally more runs on to their lead in the bottom of the third inning with Grammerstorf leading off the frame with her second triple of the game before coming in to score on another sacrifice fly from DiFabio for a 3-0 lead. A solo home run from Hartvigsen would tack on another run, giving MSU Denver a 4-0 lead after three full innings.
- The Roadrunners took advantage of a loss of control by Farnworth in the bottom of the fourth inning as she issued five walks in the inning along with one base-hit to allow three more runs to come across the plate, pushing the UCCS deficit to 7-0.
- The offense of the Mountain Lions showed some signs of life in the top of the sixth inning as they put together a two-out rally and plated three runs to cut the deficit to 7-4. A single from Siefken and walks from Case and Perez loaded the bases for UCCS with two outs in the frame, but Gutierrez and Berkowitz came through with back-to-back hits to bring home all three runs and get the Mountain Lions back in the ballgame.
- After relief pitcher Mackenzie Rutkoff pitched a scoreless bottom half of the sixth inning, UCCS quickly put themselves in a strong position to bring the game even in the top of the seventh with their first three hitters reaching base on a single, hit-by-pitch, and walk to load the bases with nobody out. Following a strikeout from pinch-hitter Emily Arellano, Jada Montoya lined a single up the middle to bring home one run and put the tying run on base for Mia Perez. Perez would hit the ball hard up the middle in her plate appearance, but unfortunately for the Mountain Lions, it was right at the MSUD second baseman, who stepped on second base and fired to first for the game-ending double play in a 7-4 win for the Roadrunners.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lion bats came to life in the final game of the series as they pounded out 12 hits against Roadrunner pitching. Gutierrez led the way with a 3-for-3 performance from the leadoff spot, while Berkowitz, Giroux, and Goldsworth also posted multi-hit games.
- Berkowitz tallied the lone extra-base hit of the game for UCCS with her double in the sixth inning while also pacing the team with a pair of RBIs.
- Gutierrez stole her ninth base of the season and is now a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts this season.
- Farnworth started inside the circle and struggled to the tune of seven earned runs across 3.2 innings pitched. The sophomore pitcher was done in by the free pass as she issued five walks in addition to six hits.
- Rutkoff pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Mountain Lions and was effective throughout her outing as she held the Roadrunners scoreless while allowing just two baserunners and striking out two batters.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Giroux had a strong day at the plate on Saturday, going 4-for-6 with a walk across the team's two games for a .667 batting average.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will head back to Denver, Colo., at the end of next week as they will face off against Regis University on Thursday and Friday, March 28-29 at Regis 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.
