COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team fell 10-7 in its first game and 10-6 in the second in Friday's double header against Colorado Christian University.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 7, #18 CCU 10 | Game 2: UCCS 6, #18 CCU 10
Records: UCCS (8-7, 2-4 RMAC), CCU (16-2, 6-0 RMAC)
Game 1 Location: Mountain Lion Field – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Game 2 Location: Mountain Lion Field – Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 11-29 all-time against the Cougars.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- After senior starting pitcher Autumn Kunze retired the side in order in the top of the first, Jennavieve Goldsworth led the Mountain Lions off with a solo home run to straightaway center to take an early 1-0 lead.
- Kunze ran into some trouble in the top of the second, relinquishing a one-out, three-run home run to center, but would retire three of the next four batters to head to the bottom half of the inning, but UCCS would not score. Kunze would go on to retire the side in order in the third.
- A scoreless third inning led to two runs in the top of the fourth as CCU's Maya Schroeder hit her second home run of the afternoon, this time a two-run shot, as the Cougars took a 5-1 lead.
- The Mountain Lions would not score in the fourth, leading to a leadoff deep shot for CCU off the bat of the lead off batter Kat Hanson to move the score to 6-1. The Cougars would go on to plate another run in the top of the fifth, as UCCS took its turn to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning down by six runs. Catcher Addy Baxter would soon launch a one-out, solo home run to left field to make it 7-2.
- After Mountain Lion pitcher Charlee Hoover got out of the sixth inning unscathed, Gianna Pancost sent a ball over the fence in right center field after Mackenzie Scott singled to center to push the score to 7-4.
- The Cougars would take back the two runs they gave up, as Arriana Wright hit a two-run home run to left. The Cougars would plate another from a home run to center field off the bat of Leah Garcia to go up 10-4. Pinch hitter Jamie Sawyer would walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh, followed by a bunt single from Goldsworth. The Mountain Lions would plate both of those runners as well as a third, before dropping the first game of Friday's double header 10-7.
STATS FROM GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions recorded seven runs and 11 hits in the first game of Friday's double header while drawing two walks and striking out just twice.
- Goldsworth provided a spark in the lineup as she posted a 3-for-4 batting line with an RBI, and two runs scored.
- Six of the Mountain Lions' starters recorded a hit on Friday morning, as Goldsworth and Pancost led the team with three.
- Kunze drew the start for UCCS inside the circle and tossed four innings while allowing five runs (five earned) on six hits and no walks. Hoover pitched two innings in relief and surrendered five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks. Kailey Bond pitched an inning in relief as well, allowing no runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Starting pitcher Janessa Giugliano retired her first two batters before the next four reached in sequence as the Cougars took an early 2-0 lead in the first. Goldsworth led off the bottom of the first with a single to left on a nine-pitch at bat followed by a single from left fielder Jacqueline Berkowitz. Baxter would soon reach on an error to second base, allowing both runners to score and tie the game up at two apiece.
- After a scoreless second inning, Giugliano surrendered another run before giving up a grand slam to CCU's Sarah Dollerschell to head into the bottom of the third down 7-2. UCCS would not plate a run in the third and went into the fourth down by five runs.
- Two more Cougars would come around to score in the fourth inning and one in the fifth as CCU gained some distance with an eight-run lead. The Mountain Lions would plate two runs in the fifth to avoid the eight-run rule from a double by Scott.
- Abby Hayes came out to pitch a scoreless inning in the sixth before the Mountain Lions scored two more off singles by Halley Redd and Alyssa Gutierrez to bring the score to 10-6 in favor of CCU. Despite the late effort by UCCS, the team was unable to complete a comeback, dropping the second game of the double header 10-6.
STATS FROM GAME TWO
- Berkowitz and Gutierrez were the leaders for the Mountain Lions with two hits, as the team finished with nine total.
- Three different Mountain Lions notched an RBI in the second game of Friday's double header (Scott, Redd, and Gutierrez).
- Giugliano (1-2) started the game inside the circle for the Mountain Lions and pitched three innings, allowed nine runs (eight earned), walked three, and struck out two.
- Kailey Bond pitched two innings in relief and allowed one hit, one earned run, four walks, and a strikeout. Hayes pitched two innings in relief and allowed three hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Pancost's three hits in the first game of Friday's double header were the most she has notched in a game this season. Her three RBI's also marked a season best.
- Gutierrez went two for three in the second game to keep her batting average above .500 on the season (.591)
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will finish their series against CCU with a double header tomorrow, February 28th. The first game is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and the second is at 1:00 p.m.
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.
