COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team took one game 9-5 over the University of Minnesota Crookston, and played through some pitching woes to drop its second game 16-6 to Pittsburg State University during Friday's double header.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 9, UMC 5 | Game 2: UCCS 6, PSU 16 (5 Innings)
Records: UCCS (5-2, 0-0 RMAC), UMC (0-5, 0-0 NSIC), PSU (5-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Game 1 Location: Mountain Lion Field – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Game 2 Location: Mountain Lion Field – Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions improve to 1-0 all-time against the Golden Eagles and 0-1 all-time against the Gorillas.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE – MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
- Starting pitcher Kailey Bond struggled to find the strike zone early, walking four of her first five batters faced, mixing in a wild pitch in the process before a pitching change. Freshman pitcher Janessa Giugliano would come in and retire the next two batters as the Golden Eagles took a 2-0 lead without a hit.
- Jennavieve Goldsworth led off the bottom of the first with a triple to left field, followed by a groundout by Jacqueline Berkowitz to plate the first UCCS run. Gianna Pancost would reach on a fielder's choice and eventually round the bases to tie the score 2-2 entering the second.
- After a scoreless top half of the second, shortstop Halley Redd led off the bottom of the inning with a home run over the center field fence to take the lead for the Mountain Lions entering the third.
- In the top of the third, Giugliano retired her first two batters faced before the next two Golden Eagles reached on singles, followed by a home run to left off the bat of Rayna French to put UMC back on top. With one out and runners in scoring position, the Mountain Lions were unable to plate a run after a flyout to right, and a hard-hit ground out to third base as Minnesota Crookston went into the fourth with a 5-3 lead.
- With no score in the fourth or the top of the fifth, the Mountain Lions' offense ignited, plating three runs off of a Pancost leadoff double, followed by a double by Tayler McCombs and a two-run home run to straightaway center field. The next wave of scoring came in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a two-run blast to right center by Pancost followed by a solo shot from Case for her second of the game as UCCS took a 9-5 lead.
- Giugliano would come back out to finish the game she took over in the first. She would strike out the first two Golden Eagles before the next two batters reached safely. Giugliano would retire the next batter as the Mountain Lions took the first game of the Southern Colorado Crossover 9-5.
STATS FROM GAME ONE – MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
- The Mountain Lions recorded nine runs and 12 hits in the first game of the Southern Colorado Crossover while drawing four walks and striking out just once.
- Case provided a spark in the lineup as she posted a 2-for-4 batting line with two home runs, and three RBIs.
- Seven of the Mountain Lions' starters recorded a hit on Friday morning, as McCombs led the team with three.
- Bond drew the start for UCCS inside the circle and tossed a third of an inning while allowing two runs (two earned) on zero hits and four walks. Giugliano pitched the final 6.2 innings and struck out six batters and went on to surrender three earned runs on six hits and two walks.
- Giugliano (1-0) secured her first collegiate win as she threw 6.2 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO – PITTSBURG STATE
- Pittsburg State jumped on top early, taking a four-run lead on starting pitcher Abby Hayes before recording an out. Autumn Kunze would take over in relief and gave up a homerun to the first batter she faced, as the Gorillas hit three straight home runs to go up 5-0. PSU would go on to plate five more to take a massive 10-0 lead.
- The first three Mountain Lions reached base in the bottom of the first before McCombs would draw a walk to put a run on the board for UCCS. Case would continue to shine at the plate, reaching on an error by the shortstop to score two more. The Mountain Lions would hit through the lineup to move the score to 10-6, heading into the second.
- The Gorillas would plate another run in the second before retiring the Mountain Lions in order, to go up 11-6. PSU would score four more in the top of the third to continue to extend its lead. The Gorillas went on to score another run and hold the Mountain Lions for the remainder of the game as they took a 16-6 victory.
STATS FROM GAME TWO – PITTSBURG STATE
- Scott was the team leader for the Mountain Lions with two hits, as the team was held to just six total.
- Five different Mountain Lions notched an RBI in the second game of Friday's double header (McCombs, Case, Redd, Allie Horsford, and Alyssa Gutierrez).
- Hayes (0-1) started the game inside the circle for the Mountain Lions and did not record an out.
- Kunze pitched two innings in relief and allowed eight hits, 10 earned runs, four walks, and a strikeout. Charlee Hoover pitched three innings in relief and allowed three hits, two earned runs, four walks, and two strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Giugliano notched her first collegiate win, pitching 6.2 innings in relief against Minnesota Crookston.
- Case had her first multi homerun game since March 28th, 2025 against Adams State University, and marks the third such performance of her collegiate career.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will continue the Southern Colorado Crossover tournament tomorrow as they match up with Texas A&M University Kingsville at 10 a.m. before taking on Minnesota Crookston once more at 12:30 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.
