LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team completed their series sweep over New Mexico Highlands University with a 14-4 offensive explosion in game one and a dominant 11-1 win in game two.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 14, NMHU 4 (5 Innings) | Game 2: UCCS 11, NMHU 1 (6 innings)
Records: UCCS (20-10, 14-5 RMAC), NMHU (8-21, 2-18 RMAC)
Location: NMHU Cowgirl Softball Field | Las Vegas, N.M.
All-Time Series: UCCS is 36-11 all-time against the Cowgirls since 2013.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions got the scoring started Monday morning as Gianna Pancost drove in herself, Tayler McCombs, and Jacqueline Berkowitz with a three-run home run. UCCS tacked on three more runs and led 6-0 after the top of the first inning. Three hits and a pair of walks for the Cowgirls allowed them to cut into their deficit but would still be trailing 6-3 after one inning of action.
- McCombs led off the top of the second with a double, which Berkowitz followed with an RBI triple. Berkowitz scored on an error, and later in the top half of the inning, Halley Redd reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Laynee Case to score, giving UCCS a 9-3 lead. Starting pitcher Hannah Hunt settled in in the bottom of the second, recording a scoreless inning.
- The Mountain Lions were scoreless in the third, but NMHU tallied a run to make the score 9-4, UCCS. The Mountain Lions scored three more runs on five singles in the fourth inning, giving themselves an even more comfortable lead at 12-4.
- Pancost stayed hot to begin the top of the fifth inning, hitting her second home run of the day with a two-run shot to score Berkowitz and give UCCS a commanding 10-run lead (14-4).
- NMHU threatened to extend the contest in the bottom of the fifth with a single and a walk, but Hunt closed the game with a strikeout to give the Mountain Lions a 14-4 win and their third win of the series.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- Pancost carried the load for UCCS offensively, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs, and three runs scored.
- Four Mountain Lions recorded two hits or more in game one of today's doubleheader: Pancost, Katie Steinmetz, Case, and Edyn Lopez.
- Hunt was the winning pitcher for UCCS, throwing five complete innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, five walks, and three strikeouts. Hunt improves to 8-2 on the season.
- Cowgirls starter Karla Banegas fell to 1-9 on the season, allowing 12 hits, eight earned runs, and five walks in five innings pitched.
- Case, Redd, and Bailey Olerich were busy on the base paths, all recording a stolen bag.
- NMHU did UCCS a favor throughout their five innings of play, recording five total errors in game one.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- UCCS jumped out to another early lead in game two after Gianna Pancost scored Jacqueline Berkowitz with a double to the left-center gap to take a 1-0 lead. Pancost would score later in the top of the first, and the Mountain Lions led 2-0 after one.
- In the top of the second inning, Pancost delivered once again, doubling home three runners and extending the Mountain Lions lead to 5-0. UCCS starter Kailey Bond started the game well, but the Cowgirls were able to scratch one run in the bottom of the second inning.
- Both teams stayed quiet in the third inning. Still, the Mountain Lions tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth after Berkowitz flew out to the left field to score Alyssa Gutierrez, and Halley Redd drove in a run with a single.
- UCCS added another run in the fifth and three more runs in the sixth inning, increasing their lead to a dominant 11-1 lead.
- After allowing a run in the second inning, Bond shut down the Cowgirls the rest of the way, not allowing a run for the rest of the game. Bond closed it out in the sixth inning with a strikeout, and the Mountain Lions completed their 4-0 sweep over NMHU with an 11-1 win.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- Pancost concluded her great series by going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk in game two.
- UCCS used its speed to its advantage in game two, as Pancost, Case, Redd, and Alyssa Gutierrez all recorded stolen bases.
- Four Mountain Lions had multi-hit games, with Pancost, Bailey Olerich, Katelyn Kilgore, and Gutierrez collecting two hits in the back half of the doubleheader.
- Kailey Bond had her way with the Cowgirls hitters as she threw six complete innings, striking out five and allowing just one earned run, six hits, and three walks. Bond improves to 5-1 on the season.
- The Mountain Lions outhit (12-6) and drew more walks (7-3) than the NMHU in the game while also striking out zero times compared to the Cowgirls' five.
- Despite the big win, UCCS left 10 runners on base.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS' sweep at New Mexico Highlands was the Mountain Lion's first wins on the road, improving their road record to 4-5 on the year.
- The Mountain Lions bats are scorching hot, and after Monday's contest, UCCS leads the RMAC in batting average (.368), runs scored (226), hits (311), RBIs (204), and on-base percentage (.428). They are second in slugging percentage (.562), doubles (58), and home runs (29).
- On the series, Gianna Pancost went 6-for-15 (.400), drove in 11 runs (10 total today), hit two doubles, two home runs, and walked twice. Pancost is hitting .340 this season with seven home runs, 10 doubles, 31 RBIs, 22 runs scored, and 32 total hits.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions are back home next weekend for a four-game series with Colorado Mesa University. Games one and two will take place on Saturday, March 22, starting at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, at Mountain Lion Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
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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.
