CHADRON, Neb. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team wrapped up their four-game series at Chadron State College on Sunday with a convincing 9-2 victory to open the day before dropping the final game of the set by a score of 4-3.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 9, CSC 2 | Game 2: UCCS 3, CSC 4
Records: UCCS (11-10, 5-7 RMAC), CSC (3-18, 3-9 RMAC)
Location: CSC Softball Field | Chadron, Neb.
All-Time Series: UCCS moves to 33-28 all-time against the Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- Following a pair of scoreless frames to begin the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, the Mountain Lions manufactured the first run of the contest in the top of the third inning as Jennavieve Goldsworth hit a one-out single and stole second base before being brought around to score on an RBI single by Gianna Pancost.
- After a third straight hitless inning pitched by UCCS starting pitcher Janessa Giugliano in the bottom of the third frame, the Mountain Lions added onto their advantage with a trio of two-out runs as an RBI double by Alyssa Gutierrez brought home one run before Goldsworth capped the inning with a two-run home run over the left field fence that made it a 4-0 ballgame.
- In the bottom of the fourth inning, UCCS handed the ball to Charlee Hoover inside the circle and she picked up right where Giugliano left off as she worked around a walk to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. The lead continued to increase in the home half of the fifth frame as a one-out double by Pancost set up pinch-hitter Katie Steinmetz to drive in the fifth run of the contest with an RBI single up the middle.
- After Hoover sent Chadron State down in order in the bottom half of the fifth inning, the Mountain Lions put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth frame as they extended the lead to 9-0 with a four-run inning that featured five hits by UCCS and three defensive errors by the Eagles. Halley Redd and Tayler McCombs opened the inning with back-to-back singles and moved to second and third on a throwing error at second base on McCombs' hit. With Gutierrez at the plate, the Eagles' catcher committed another throwing error that allowed Redd to score, although it turned out to be a moot point as Gutierrez followed the miscue with an RBI-double to left field that scored McCombs. The Mountain Lions added two more runs in the frame with RBI singles from Jacqueline Berkowitz and Pancost pushing the advantage to nine runs.
- The Eagles finally found some offensive momentum in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Brogan Allen lined a one-out single up the middle against Hoover for the team's first hit of the game and eventually came across to score on a two-run home run by Tiffani Mein. After the home run, Hoover settles back into a groove as she struck out Lani Davis to end the sixth inning and worked around a pair of baserunners in the seventh inning to finish off a 9-2 victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions outhit the Eagles 15-to-3 in the third game of the series as seven of the team's nine original starters recorded at least one hit.
- UCCS had five players record a multi-hit performance in the ballgame as Pancost and Gutierrez both went 3-for-4 and Goldsworth, Redd, and McCombs all posted 2-for-4 batting lines.
- Goldsworth moved into a tie for the team lead in home runs as she hit her fourth of the season while also driving home two runs. Pancost and Gutierrez also notched two-RBI performances, while Berkowitz and Steinmetz recorded one RBI apiece.
- In addition to showing off her power stroke, Goldsworth also stole her team-leading 17th base of the season and has still yet to be thrown out on a stolen base attempt this year.
- Giugliano (2-2) drew the start inside the circle and was credited with her second win of the season as she pitched three scoreless innings, holding the Eagles without a hit and allowing just two walks while striking out three hitters.
- Hoover tossed four innings in relief for the Mountain Lions, surrendering a pair of earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four hitters.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- UCCS starting pitcher Autumn Kunze and CSC starting pitcher Belle Akins matched each other with three scoreless innings to begin the series finale as both hurlers limited the opposing offenses to just a pair of hits apiece.
- The Mountain Lions finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning when Pancost drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second base before being brought home to score on a one-out, RBI single by Laynee Case. Following a bunt single by Redd and another wild pitch by Akins, the Eagles committed a defensive error at shortstop that allowed another run to score and gave UCCS a 2-0 advantage.
- Now holding a two-run lead, Kunze returned to the circle in the bottom of the fourth inning and found herself in some trouble as three of the first four hitters in the frame reached base against the senior hurler, giving the Eagles a bases-loaded situation with just one out in the inning. Facing her first spot of adversity in the game, Kunze managed to pitch out of the jam as she induced a pair of ground balls to the infield to keep Chadron State off the scoreboard.
- After the Mountain Lions were kept quiet in the top of the fifth inning, UCCS opted for a pitching change inside the circle with Kailey Bond taking the rubber. Bond kept the shutout intact as she worked around a two-out walk to toss a scoreless fifth inning and started the sixth inning with a strikeout but committed a throwing error with one-out in the frame that gave the Eagles some life. Following a foul out to the right side of the infield that registered as the second out of the sixth inning, Chadron State kept the frame alive with a single and a hit batter that loaded the bases before Bond unleashed a wild pitch that scored a run and cut the lead to 2-1. After issuing a walk to load the bases once again, Eagles' leadoff batter Charley Pitrat made the Mountain Lions pay as she launched a double to left field that cleared the bases and gave the Eagles their first lead of the series, 4-2.
- The top of the seventh inning started off on a positive note for the Mountain Lions as Goldsworth came through with a clutch leadoff home run over the centerfield fence that cut the deficit to 4-3. After the next two batters were retired by Akins, Pancost worked a nine-pitch walk to keep the game going and quickly went in motion on the basepaths as McCombs dropped a double down the right field line to put the tying and go-ahead runners in scoring position, but Akins buckled down and got Case to strike out looking to end the ballgame.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- UCCS recorded seven hits and four walks in the final game of the series, while holding the Eagles to just five hits.
- Berkowitz put together a 2-for-3 performance, while five players recorded one hit in the game.
- Goldsworth left the ballpark for the second straight game and now leads the Mountain Lions with five home runs on the season.
- Kunze started the game for the Mountain Lions and tossed 4.0 shutout innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out four hitters.
- Bond (3-3) took her third loss of the season as she surrendered four runs (zero earned) while allowing two hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mountain Lion pitching staff was exceptional during their series against Chadron State as four pitchers combined to post a 0.56 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 25.0 innings pitched.
- Offensively, UCCS recorded a stellar .357 team batting average in the four-game series while scoring an average of 8.25 runs per game.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will continue their road trip next weekend as they head to Durango, Colo. for a four-game set against Fort Lewis College on March 14-15.
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.
