SPEARFISH, S.D. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team split the first two games of their four-game series against Black Hills State University on Saturday afternoon as they followed up a 6-3 setback in the series-opener with a 7-1 victory in the second game of the day.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 3, BHSU 6 | Game 2: UCCS 7, BHSU 1
Records: UCCS (25-19, 19-14 RMAC), BHSU (22-20, 20-14 RMAC)
Location: Yellow Jacket Field | Spearfish, S.D.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 35-11 all-time against Black Hills State.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions benefitted from some shaky defense on the part of the homestanding Yellow Jackets in the top of the first inning as a pair of errors led to an early 1-0 lead for UCCS. The Mountain Lions returned the favor in the bottom half of the frame as UCCS starting pitcher Kailey Bond plunked the first two hitters she faced before an error at shortstop brought home a run to even the game. Black Hills State went on to add another run in the inning after a single and a bases loaded walk to take a 2-1 lead after one complete inning.
- UCCS found a quick response in the top of the second inning as Laynee Case and Halley Redd opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Bailey Olerich reached on an error to load the bases with just one out. Jennavieve Goldsworth cashed in on the situation for the Mountain Lions, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Case across to score the game-tying run.
- After Bond held the Yellow Jackets scoreless in their half of the second inning, Black Hills State re-claimed the lead in the bottom of the third frame as Ashlynn Pauwels launched a leadoff home run to center field that put them ahead 3-2. With BHSU's starting pitcher Laci Peskey holding UCCS without any offense in the fourth and fifth innings, the Yellow Jackets added to their cushion in the bottom half of the fifth as they used four walks and a pair of hits to plate three runs and take a 6-2 lead.
- The Mountain Lions got one of the runs back in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single from Redd, but Peskey settled down to hold UCCS scoreless for the remainder of the ballgame and lead BHSU to a 6-3 win in the series-opener.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions recorded five hits against Peskey in the game with all of them being singles.
- Redd put together a 2-for-3 line at the plate with an RBI, while Pancost, McCombs, and Case each posted one hit.
- Bond (8-5) took the loss after surrendering six runs (four earned) in five innings of work while giving up five hits and walking six batters. Lauren Falk pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Bond in the sixth inning, allowing one walk and striking out one hitter.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Following a scoreless first inning from both teams, the Mountain Lions found themselves with a prime scoring opportunity in the top of the second inning as a hit, a walk, and an error led to a bases loaded situation with one out. With Olerich at the plate, UCCS once again benefitted from an error by Black Hills State as one run came into score on a miscue by the Yellow Jacket catcher before the inning was ended on a fly ball double play off the bat of Goldsworth.
- The Mountain Lions put together another rally in the top of the third inning as singles by Jacqueline Berkowitz and Pancost followed by a sacrifice bunt from McCombs that moved the runners to second and third. After Case reached on an error at shortstop to bring home the first run of the inning, Edyn Lopez pushed the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single to second base.
- UCCS saw their lead grow once again in the top of the fourth inning with McCombs placing a two-RBI double into the right center field gap to extend the cushion to 5-0.
- With the strong run support from her offense, UCCS starting pitcher Hannah Hunt made quick work of the Yellow Jackets as she faced the minimum through the first five innings of the game with just one hit allowed. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Black Hills State finally got to Hunt as the first two hitters in the frame reached base on a single and a walk before an RBI double from Tyler Whitlock put the Yellow Jackets on the board and cut UCCS' lead to 5-1. The Mountain Lions' freshman hurler managed to retire two of the next three hitters, however, to keep the lead at four runs heading to the final frame.
- The Mountain Lions went on to add two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning as Redd laced a two-RBI double down the left field line to push the lead to 7-1. The six-run advantage was more than enough for Hunt, who set the Yellow Jackets down in order in the bottom half of the seventh to finish off the victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS recorded nine hits in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader while drawing four walks.
- Redd had another strong effort at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Pancost joined Redd in having a two-hit ballgame as she posted a 2-for-3 line with a walk.
- The Mountain Lions stole five bases in the game with Case swiping a pair and Kaylle Holland, Redd, and Olerich each taking one.
- Hunt (10-4) put together a masterful performance inside the circle as she allowed just one earned run across seven complete innings of work to secure her tenth win of the season. The freshman pitcher allowed just three hits, one walk, and one hit batter while striking out five Yellow Jackets.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Redd continued her stellar freshman season on Saturday as she continues to lead the team with a .444 batting average and .503 on-base percentage while ranking third on the team with 11 doubles and 33 RBIs.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will close their series against the Yellow Jackets tomorrow with another doubleheader set to begin at 11 a.m. from Yellow Jacket Field in Spearfish, S.D.
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.
