PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team opened their series at Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday with a doubleheader split as sophomore
Autumn Kunze pitched the Mountain Lions to a 7-3 victory in game one before the ThunderWolves took game two by a score of 5-0 on the back of a strong pitching performance from Marissa Robertson.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 7, CSUP 3 | Game 2: UCCS 0, CSUP 5
Records: UCCS (16-31, 13-25 RMAC), CSUP (21-28, 19-19 RMAC)
Location: CSUP Rawlings Softball Complex | Pueblo, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 59-61 all-time against the ThunderWolves.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- After being set down in order in the top half of the first inning, Mountain Lion starting pitcher Autumn Kunze was the victim of some shaky defense in the home half of the frame as three defensive errors led to a trio of early runs by CSU Pueblo.
- Facing an early 3-0 deficit, the UCCS offense quickly fought their way back into the ballgame in the top of the second inning as they strung together four hits in the frame to bring across three runs and even the contest. Izzy Giroux and Laynee Case got the scoring started in the inning with back-to-back doubles to open the frame, while an RBI groundout by Hailey Busshart and an RBI single from Katelyn Kilgore brought in two more runs for UCCS.
- Following a shutdown inning from Kunze in the bottom of the second, UCCS struck again on the offensive end in the visitor half of the third frame as Gianna Pancost drew a one-out walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Giroux before being brought home to score on an RBI single to center field by Case.
- Now protecting her first lead of the ballgame at 4-3, Kunze continued to shut down the ThunderWolves as she pitched scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings before UCCS added on once again in the top of the sixth frame. The inning began with Jennavieve Goldsworth reaching on a three-base error before promptly being brought in to score on an RBI single by Jacqueline Siefken. UCCS added two more runs in the frame with a single by Busshart setting up Jacqueline Berkowitz for a two-RBI single into right field that put the Mountain Lions ahead 7-3.
- With the added cushion, Kunze cruised through two more shutout innings in the sixth and seventh frames to put away the ThunderWolves and secure the 7-3 win in the series opener.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- UCCS outhit the ThunderWolves 10-2 in the series-opener and had a trio of student-athletes record two-hit ballgames, including Berkowitz, Case, and Busshart.
- Berkowitz and Case also drove in a pair of runs each, while Siefken, Busshart, and Kilgore each drove in one run.
- The Mountain Lions had a pair of stolen bases in the ballgame with Maddie Unrein and Goldworth each picking up their sixth bags of the season.
- Kunze (9-10) earned her ninth win of the campaign after pitching seven stellar innings in which she allowed just one earned run on two hits while striking out four batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- For a second consecutive game, CSU Pueblo jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single by Darleen Falcon and an RBI triple from Madelyn Huerta giving the Thunderwolves a 2-0 advantage against UCCS starting pitcher Kailey Bond.
- After going scoreless in their first two innings on the offensive end, UCCS opened the top of the third with a rally as Kilgore led off with a single and was quickly advanced on a double to right field by Alyssa Gutierrez, giving the Mountain Lions runners on second and third with nobody out. The rally would quickly end with some tough luck, however, as Berkowitz lined out into a double play and Pancost grounded out to end the frame with CSU Pueblo still leading 2-0.
- In the bottom half of the third inning, CSU Pueblo added another run to their lead as their first two batters in the frame reached on a walk and a single. Huerta would drive in her second run of the game on an RBI groundout to give the ThunderWolves a 3-0 advantage, but Bond settled down for the remainder of the inning to hold them to just one run.
- While CSU Pueblo starting pitcher Marissa Robertson continued to stifle the Mountain Lions inside the circle through five innings of play, the ThunderWolves added to their run tally in the bottom half of the fifth frame with Falcon lifting a two-run home run over the left field fence to extend their lead to 5-0.
- Robertson would continue her strong outing down the stretch as she pitched scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh innings to finish off the complete game shutout in a 5-0 victory for the ThunderWolves.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions managed to tally six hits and two walks against Robertson but were unable to scratch the scoreboard.
- Gutierrez reached base in each of her three plate appearances from the leadoff spot in the lineup, going 2-for-2 with a double and a walk.
- Bond (6-10) was saddled with her tenth loss of the season as she surrendered five earned runs across six innings pitched while striking out two batters.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With four strikeouts in game one of the doubleheader, Kunze passed Amber Colton for the second-most strikeouts in a single season by a sophomore pitcher with 92. The most by a sophomore pitcher in a single season is 166 by Jessica Belsterling during the 2012 season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will close their series against the ThunderWolves tomorrow with another doubleheader set to begin at 11 a.m. from the CSUP Rawlings Softball Complex.
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.
