DENVER, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team earned a hard-fought split against Metropolitan State University Denver on Friday afternoon in the first two games of their weekend series. The Mountain Lions were defeated 11-3 in game one but bounced back with a dominant 8-2 win in game two.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 3, MSUD 11 (6 innings) | Game 2: UCCS 8, MSUD 2
Records: UCCS (29-21, 23-16 RMAC), MSUD (38-12, 33-8 RMAC)
Location: MSUD Assembly Athletic Complex | Denver, Colo.
All-Time Series: After today's split, the Roadrunners still lead the series 44-22.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- UCCS got game one started with Jennavieve Goldsworth hitting a single and Gianna Pancost doubling down the right field line to give the Mountain Lions a 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher Kailey Bond opened the bottom of the first inning with two strikeouts, but MSUD rallied for three runs on two home runs, going up 3-1 early.
- Halley Redd started the second with an infield single and would come around to home plate after Edyn Lopez hit a double. Goldsworth then tripled down the left field line, scoring Lopez and helping the Mountain Lions even things up at three apiece. UCCS made a crucial error in the bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded, resulting in three roadrunners to score, making the score 6-3.
- Both teams were held scoreless in the third inning, but MSUD tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth to lead 7-3.
- The Mountain Lions were held scoreless the rest of the way, while the Roadrunners piled on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, winning game one 11-3.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- Goldsworth led the team on the offensive side with two hits, one RBI, and one run scored.
- Other Mountain Lions who recorded a hit include Pancost, Tayler McCombs, Redd, Lopez, and Bailey Olerich.
- UCCS hit three extra-base hits, with Pancost (double), Lopez (double), and Goldsworth (triple) all finding gaps in the outfield.
- The Roadrunners outhit the Mountain Lions 11-7, drew more walks (3-0), and had more extra-base hits (5-3) with two home runs, two doubles, and a triple.
- UCCS struggled in the field, recording four errors in the game, while MSUD only recorded one.
- Bond records her sixth loss on the year (9-6) after pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, four earned runs, three walks, and three strikeouts in 90 pitches thrown.
- MSUD starter Natalie Romero improves to 18-3, throwing all six innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, and recording four strikeouts with 94 pitches thrown.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions got after in the first inning of game two, scoring three runs after a Pancost double, a McCombs triple, and Layne Case reaching on a fielder's choice to go up 3-0.
- UCCS starter Autumn Kunze was in the zone from the jump, recording three quick outs in the top of the first. Neither team recorded runs in the second or third as Kunze continued to set Roadrunner batters down.
- MSUD had only recorded one hit through three innings but would get on the board by hitting a solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kunze settled and left the inning, allowing just one run.
- The Mountain Lions' bats caught fire in the top of the fifth inning, collecting five runs on six hits. A Case double, Redd single, Katelyn Kilgore single, and Goldsworth single all contributed to the big inning, resulting in an 8-1 lead.
- Kunze continued her excellent start as she worked out of a one-out, first, and third jam, throwing another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth.
- Lauren Falk entered the game for UCCS in the top of the sixth and ran into some trouble, but only allowed one run and helped UCCS maintain an 8-2 lead going into the final inning.
- UCCS went scoreless in the top of the seventh, leaving Fulk and the Mountain Lions three outs away from a road win. MSUD threatened with a couple of base runners, but Fulk would leave them stranded and finished the game by forcing a groundout to second base to win game two, 8-2.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS' offensive attack saw six different Mountain Lions record two or more hits: Jacqueline Berkowitz (three), Redd (three), Goldsworth (two), Pancost (two), McCombs (two), and Case (two).
- Of UCCS' 15 hits, just three were extra-base hits, with Pancost and Case hitting doubles and McCombs hitting a triple.
- Case, Redd, Lopez, and Alyssa Gutierrez were active on the base paths, all swiping a steal each.
- The Mountain Lions outhit the Roadrunners 15-6, had more stolen bases (4-0), and struck out less (8-5).
- Kunze's fantastic outing saw her throw five innings, allowing four hits, striking out five, and walking three batters while allowing only one run in 101 pitches. Kunze improves to 6-7 on the season.
- Falk did a great job closing out the game's final two innings, allowing just two hits and one run (unearned) while striking out three batters.
- MSUD starter Jenna Medhus falls to 5-3 on the season after allowing seven hits, five earned runs, and two walks while striking out three in 4.1 innings pitched.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Redd went 4-for-7 on the day and recorded at least one hit in each game, extending her hit streak to 11.
- With Redd's four hits on the day, she has 64 on the season and is tied with Payton Kornfeind (2013) and Sierra Green (2007) for the most hits in a freshman season in program history.
- McCombs recorded three total hits on the day, which puts her at 61 on the season. She is now with Brianna Santos (2021) and Savannah Ledford (2006) for the third most hits in a freshman season in program history.
- After today's doubleheader, Redd and McCombs stay in the top five in the RMAC in hitting, batting .448 and .418, respectively.
- Entering today, MSUD had defeated UCCS 10 straight games dating back to 2022 and increased that win streak to 11 after game one. The Mountain Lions finally snapped that streak with their 8-2 win in game two.
- The Roadrunners have gone 17-2 versus UCCS in 19 matchups dating back to the 2021 season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions finish the series and the regular season tomorrow versus the Roadrunners at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the MSUD Assembly Athletic Complex in Denver, Colo.
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.
