COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team opened conference play with a 2-2 split against Colorado School of Mines. The Mountain Lions won game one on Monday afternoon 14-13 with a walk-off base hit from
Jacquelynn Siefken but lost game two 15-4.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 14, CSM 13 | Game 2: UCCS 4, CSM 15 (5 innings)
Records: UCCS (7-5, 2-2 RMAC), CSM (2-12, 2-2 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: 72-65-1
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Orediggers attacked first to open Monday afternoon's doubleheader, plating three runs due to UCCS mishaps. The Mountain Lions allowed two walks, recorded one error, and allowed a home run to dead center field to give CSM a 4-0 lead after the opening inning.
- After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the third inning saw a bunch of action. The Orediggers tacked on another run at the top of the inning, but at the bottom of the third, UCCS scored five runs. A Laynee Case single up the middle got the Mountain Lions on the board first, followed by a two-run single by Halley Redd. Jacquelynn Siefken then plated two runners with a single to notch the score at five apiece. UCCS scored all five of their runs in the third inning with two outs.
- Starter Kailey Bond settled in and recorded a clean inning in the fourth. Gianna Pancost rewarded her efforts and gave the Mountain Lions their first lead (6-5) with a solo home run over the center field fence.
- CSM responded in a big way at the top of the fourth inning after Bond had nearly escaped a bases-loaded jam. Oredigger infielder Hannah Roberts hit a grand slam to deep left-center field to give CSM a 9-6 lead. The bottom of the fourth saw the Mountain Lions respond again with three runs after Jaqueline Berkowitz doubled to center to score two and later scored on an error to even things at nine.
- In the top of the sixth, CSM made another statement, hitting a three-run home run with two outs to go up 12-9. The bottom of the sixth saw UCCS lessen their deficit to one (12-11) with a solo home run from Taylor McCombs and an RBI single by Siefken.
- The Orediggers added a run in the top of the seventh to extend their lead, but the Mountain Lions were relentless. Down 13-11 with two outs, Katie Steinmetz started the comeback effort with a single. McCombs followed with another single, and Case drove in a run with a hit up the middle. Redd then tied the game at 13 with another single. Siefken, who already had three RBIs and two hits, stepped up and drilled the ball up the middle, walking it off, sealing a thrilling 14-13 victory, and securing game one of the doubleheader for UCCS.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- Jacquelynn Siefken was the hero in game one, going 3-for-5 at the plate and knocking in four RBIs, including the game-winning walk-off single.
- Four different Mountain Lions etched three hits in game one: Siefken, Tayler McCombs, Laynee Case, and Halley Redd.
- McCombs had an excellent day at the plate, going 3-for-5, scoring two runs, and driving in one after a solo home run in the sixth inning.
- Gianna Pancost had a two-hit game, going 2-for-4, including one RBI, a walk, and a solo home run in the fourth inning.
- The Mountain Lion's bats were hot as they collected 18 hits. Three hits came on extra-base knocks, but UCCS' main attack came from small ball, tacking 15 singles.
- Kailey Bond pitched five complete innings in game one, allowing eight earned runs, four hits, and walking five batters. Despite her struggles, Bond stayed composed and struck out six Orediggers.
- Hannah Hunt came in to provide relief in the top of the sixth inning for UCCS and allowed four earned runs on five hits. Hunt was the winning pitcher on record and is now 5-0 this season.
- Mines reliever Kat Miller was handed her fifth loss of the season (0-5) after allowing 13 hits and six earned runs in four innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Orediggers and Mountain Lions were scoreless in the first inning, but CSM got on the board first in the second inning with two runs.
- After another scoreless inning for both teams in the third, the Orediggers blew the game open in the fourth. CSM scored 10 runs in the fourth, including five hits and four walks, to take a commanding 12-0 lead.
- UCCS threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning but failed to bring anyone across home plate, stranding three runners. The Orediggers tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth inning and extended their lead to 15-0.
- Gianna Pancost got the Mountain Lions their first run in the top of the fifth with a solo long ball. Alyssa Gutierrez helped extend the game with a two-run double, which Mackenzie Scott followed with an RBI single. UCCS' last-ditch effort stopped there, though, dropping the series' final game 15-4.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- Halley Redd led the Mountain Lions in hits in game two, going 3-for-3 at the plate to go along with a stolen base and a run.
- Alyssa Gutierrez went 1-for-3 in the game and drove in two runs with her double in the fifth inning.
- Gianna Pancost's one hit in game two was a big one, driving herself in with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
- The Mountain Lions and Orediggers were even in hits in game two (9-9). Still, CSM took full advantage of UCCS' five errors, stranding only six batters compared to the Mountain Lions, who stranded 10.
- Autumn Kunze is pinned with the loss in game two as she threw 3.1 innings and allowed eight earned runs, five hits, and four walks while only striking out one Oredigger.
- CSM starter Taylor Wayne improves to 2-2 on the season, throwing all five innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits, and walking four Mountain Lions. Wayne recorded four strikeouts in her outing as well.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gianna Pancost's two-home-run day now has her sitting with four homers on the season, the most on the team.
- Tayler McComb's home run in game one was her second of the season.
- Mackenzie Scott and Pancost have reached base safely in the team's 12 games this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions head to All Star Park in Lakewood, Colo., next time on the diamond to take on Colorado Christian University for a four-game series. Games one and two are on Friday, February 21, with the first pitch coming at noon.
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.
