PUEBLO, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team fell in the final two games of their four-game set against Colorado State University Pueblo on Monday with the Mountain Lions making a late push but coming up just short in a 9-8 defeat to open the day before falling in an 8-4 decision in the final game of the series.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 8, CSUP 9 | Game 2: UCCS 4, CSUP 8
Records: UCCS (24-18, 18-13 RMAC), CSUP (24-15, 23-9 RMAC)
Location: CSUP Rawlings Softball Complex | Pueblo, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions fall to 60-66 all-time against the ThunderWolves.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- After both teams went scoreless in the first inning despite having a pair of baserunners each, the Mountain Lions were gifted a run in the top of the second frame with CSU Pueblo committing a pair of errors to give UCCS a 1-0 lead.
- The Mountain Lions quickly saw their lead evaporate in the bottom half of the second inning as the ThunderWolves loaded the bases with just one out before UCCS starting pitcher Hannah Hunt plunked Taylor Brower to bring a run across the plate and even the game at one apiece. CSU Pueblo went on to add one more run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Delaney Barela, but Hunt stopped the bleeding right there with a strikeout to end the frame.
- Now trailing for the first time in the ballgame, the UCCS offense went back to work and quickly put together a rally with a double by Jennavieve Goldsworth and a single by Jacqueline Berkowitz putting runners on second and third with nobody out in the top of the third. Following a lineout by Gianna Pancost, Tayler McCombs came through in the clutch as she pulled a two-RBI single into right field that put the Mountain Lions back ahead by a score of 3-2.
- The ThunderWolves benefitted from some shaky defense on the part of Hunt in the bottom of the fourth inning as Raelynn Rogers put down a bunt single to lead off the frame and was able to advance all the way to third base after UCCS' freshman pitcher sailed her throw high down the right field line. Rogers would eventually come across to score the game-tying run on a sacrifice bunt, but Hunt did well to limit the damage to just the one unearned run as she retired the next three hitters in order following the error.
- In the top of the fifth inning, UCCS rapidly found themselves in a strong position to regain the lead with Berkowitz hitting a double down the left field line followed by a single from Pancost that put runners on the corners with just one out. With McCombs at the plate, UCCS sent Pancost in motion on a stolen base attempt and the throw down to second base skipped into center field, allowing Berkowitz to come home to score for a 4-3 Mountain Lion lead.
- The game was flipped back in the favor of CSU Pueblo in the bottom of the fifth inning when a walk and a hit batter set up Cali Cole for an RBI single to left field that once again brought the game even. Following a double steal that put runners on second and third for CSU Pueblo, pitcher McKenna James helped herself out with a single up the middle to score both runners and give the ThunderWolves a 6-4 advantage.
- UCCS got one run back in the top of the sixth inning on a pinch-hit, solo home run by Jacquelynn Siefken, but the ThunderWolves struck back for three runs in their half of the sixth with a solo home run from Madelyn Huerta and a pair of unearned runs extending the CSU Pueblo cushion to 9-5.
- Facing a four-run deficit in the top of the seventh, UCCS quickly made the game much more manageable as Pancost led off the inning with a single before McCombs launched an opposite-field, two-run home run over the left field fence to make it a 9-7 game. After a Halley Redd single was sandwiched by a pair of lineouts from Laynee Case and Edyn Lopez, Katelyn Kilgore stepped to the plate and ripped a two-out double to left field that scored Redd from first base and brought pinch-hitter Katie Steinmetz to the dish with a chance to tie the game. Steinmetz took a liking to the first pitch she saw in her at-bat and hit a hard liner to right field, but the ball hung up long enough for the CSU Pueblo right fielder to get under it and record the final out of the ballgame with the ThunderWolves earning a 9-8 win.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions had a strong offensive showing in the first game of Monday's doubleheader, recording 12 hits, five of which being of the extra-base variety.
- UCCS saw strong offensive production from the middle of their order as Pancost went 3-for-4 out of the three-hole in the lineup and McCombs put together a perfect 3-for-3 line with a home run, a walk, and four RBIs from the clean-up spot.
- McCombs recorded her fifth home run of the campaign, while Siefken left the yard for the first time this season.
- It was a battle inside the circle for Hunt (9-4) throughout the day as she finished her outing with nine runs (six earned) allowed on eight hits and six walks across 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts. She turned the ball over to Lauren Falk for the final two outs of the sixth inning, and the freshman pitcher went on to strike out two of the three hitters she faced.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lion bats stayed hot to begin the final game of the series as Goldsworth led off the game with a triple down the right field line before a pair of walks gave UCCS a bases-loaded situation with one out in the frame. After logging four RBIs in the first game of the day, McCombs cashed in once again as she sent a single through the right side of the infield that gave UCCS a 1-0 lead. The Mountain Lions went on to add two more runs in the frame with Redd drawing a bases-loaded walk and Case being hit by a pitch with runners everywhere.
- In the top of the second inning, UCCS added another run to their advantage as Goldsworth led off the frame with her second triple in as many plate appearances and was brought across to score two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Pancost.
- After a strong finish to the first game of the doubleheader, Falk drew just her second start of the season and continued to deal across the first three innings of the game as she held the ThunderWolves scoreless with just one hit allowed. Her outing took a turn for the worst in the bottom of the fourth when CSU Pueblo took advantage of three walks and four hits to flip the lead in their favor, 6-4.
- The ThunderWolves went on to add a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and their starting pitcher, Mia Sanchez, took care of the rest as she kept the Mountain Lions scoreless across the sixth and seventh innings to finish off the series sweep with an 8-4 win.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS recorded six hits in the final game of the set, including a 2-for-4 showing from Goldsworth out of the leadoff spot.
- Goldsworth recorded a pair of triples, which brings her into a tie for the team lead with four on the season.
- Four different Mountain Lion student-athletes registered an RBI, including Pancost, McCombs, Redd, and Bailey Olerich.
- Falk (2-4) took the loss inside the circle after surrendering six earned runs across 3.2 innings pitched. Kailey Bond took care of the final 2.1 innings of the game, allowing a pair of unearned runs while striking out one batter.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Goldsworth is the first Mountain Lion to record two triples in a single game since Siefken did so last season in a 12-2 win against Adams State University on April 6, 2024.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will continue their road trip next weekend as they head to Spearfish, S.D. for a four-game conference series against Black Hills State University on April 12-13.
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.
