COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team won both games of Sunday's doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands University to complete a four-game series sweep over the Cowgirls.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 10, NMHU 1 (5 innings) | Game 2: UCCS 4, NMHU 1
Records: UCCS (17-12, 11-9 RMAC), NMHU (8-24, 6-14 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions improve to 77-52 all-time against the Cowgirls.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- UCCS starting pitcher Charlee Hoover set the tone early in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader as she set the Cowgirls down in order with a pair of strikeouts in the top half of the first inning. In the bottom half of the frame, the Mountain Lions used the momentum on the offensive side as a leadoff walk by Jennavieve Goldsworth and a single from Alyssa Gutierrez set the table for a two-run inning. Gianna Pancost drove in the first run of the inning on a groundout to shortstop before Tayler McCombs came through with a two-out single to left field to give UCCS a 2-0 lead.
- Following another clean inning from Hoover in the top of the second frame, the Mountain Lions kept their bats rolling in the bottom half of the inning as Halley Redd led off with a line drive triple down the right field line and was promptly brought home to score on an RBI single up the middle by Laynee Case. UCCS went on to add three more runs in the inning with an RBI double over the center fielder's head by Addy Baxter capping the scoring and giving the Mountain Lions a six-run lead after two frames.
- The Mountain Lions put together another big scoring output in the bottom of the third inning as they used four hits and a walk to plate four more runs, pushing the advantage to 10-0. UCCS opened the frame by loading the bases on a walk by Mackenzie Scott, a double by Redd, and an infield single by Case before back-to-back fielder's choice groundouts resulted in a run. The hit parade continued as the inning progressed as Gutierrez brought home another run with an RBI single up the middle before Pancost drove home two more runs with a line drive single into centerfield that pushed the margin to 10 runs.
- With a sizeable cushion, Hoover continued to cruise through the fourth and fifth innings as she allowed just a solo home run across the final two frames as UCCS secured a 10-1 run-rule victory over the Cowgirls.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions notched 10 hits in the third game of the series and had a trio of players record two-hit performances, including Gutierrez, Redd, and Case.
- Seven of the Mountain Lions' 10 runs were driven in from the top three positions of the lineup with Goldsworth and Gutierrez each recording a pair of RBIs and Pancost driving in three runs from the three-hole.
- UCCS stole six bases in the ballgame, with Gutierrez swiping three bags, Goldsworth stealing two, and Case taking one.
- Hoover (3-2) was excellent inside the circle for the Mountain Lions as she picked up her third win of the season, allowing just one earned run across five innings pitched while striking out six hitters.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Cowgirls struck first in the final game of the series as Jazmyn Griego and Shaylene Saladin connected on doubles against UCCS starting pitcher Abby Hayes for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. After scorching the ball on the offensive side throughout the first game of the day, it took the Mountain Lions until the bottom of the third inning to get on the scoreboard in the second game as a leadoff single by Mackenzie Johnson and a double by Goldsworth put a pair of runners in scoring position for UCCS. Gutierrez took full advantage of the situation as she lined a single into shallow right field that brought home the game-tying run before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Katie Steinmetz gave the Mountain Lions their first lead of the game at 2-1.
- With the Mountain Lions now ahead, Hayes managed to pitch around a hit in each of the fourth and fifth innings to keep the one-run lead intact before turning the ball over to relief pitcher Autumn Kunze in the top of the sixth inning. Kunze proceeded to retire each of the three hitters she faced in the top of the sixth inning and then got some insurance runs in the bottom half of the frame as Redd launched a two-out, two-run home run over the center field fence that gave the Mountain Lions a 4-1 lead.
- In the top of the seventh inning, Kunze needed just 12 pitches to send the Mountain Lions to victory as she earned the save in a 4-1 win over the Cowgirls.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS recorded eight hits in the series finale, including two apiece from Goldsworth and Redd.
- Redd notched her second home run of the season and drove in a pair of runs, while Gutierrez and Steinmetz each add one RBI.
- Hayes (2-2) earned her second win of the season as she tossed five solid frames, allowing just one earned run and striking out one batter.
- Kunze secured her third save of the campaign as she pitched two hitless frames after entering the game in the sixth inning.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Goldsworth has now reached base in 16 consecutive games for the Mountain Lions dating back to Feb. 27.
- The Mountain Lions have won eight straight games against New Highlands and hold an 11-1 overall record against the Cowgirls under current head coach Dwight Sanders.
- UCCS will carry a season-best six-game winning streak into next weekend's series against Colorado Mesa University.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will travel to Grand Junction, Colo. for a four-game set against Colorado Mesa on March 28-29. First pitch for the first game of the series is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.
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.
