COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team fell 3-6 in its first game and 5-8 in the second in Saturday's double header against Colorado State University Pueblo.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 3, CSUP 6 | Game 2: UCCS 5, CSUP 8
Records: UCCS (24-17, 18-14 RMAC), CSUP (31-11, 27-5 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 27-26 all-time against the ThunderWolves.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- UCCS starting pitcher Autumn Kunze shut down the CSUP lineup through the first two innings of action, not allowing a hit and just one baserunner. Despite Kunze's solid start, the Mountain Lions were unable to plate a run through two innings. The ThunderWolves broke through in the third inning with four runs on three hits and two errors to take an early lead.
- After a scoreless fourth inning, CSUP's Caitlyn Cole led off the sixth with a solo shot to right field as the ThunderWolves went up 5-0. The Mountain Lions would soon plate their first run of the game as Jennavieve Goldsworth doubled off the center field wall to score Halley Redd who reached on a single to right. Alyssa Gutierrez would come up next and hit a triple over the left fielder's head on a 2-2 count to make it a three-run game. Gianna Pancost would soon come to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to right field to move the score to 5-3.
- The ThunderWolves threatened to score again in the sixth inning, landing a runner on first with one out. Kunze would escape the jam thanks to Goldsworth who threw out the tagging runner at third base after a flyout to right to keep the deficit at two. Two UCCS batters reached base in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to score heading into the final inning of action.
- The lead would increase in the top of the seventh for CSUP as its lineup plated another run, and the Mountain Lions did not complete the three-run comeback. The ThunderWolves went on to take the third game of the series 6-3.
STATS FROM GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions recorded three runs and 10 hits in the first game of Saturday's double header while drawing one walk and striking out four times.
- Gutierrez provided a spark in the lineup as she posted a 3-for-4 batting line with an RBI and scored one run.
- Six of the Mountain Lions' starters recorded a hit on Saturday morning, as Gutierrez led the team with three.
- Kunze drew the start for UCCS inside the circle and tossed five innings while allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk. Janessa Giugliano pitched two innings in relief and surrendered one run (one earned) on three hits and no walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The ThunderWolves led off the game with a solo home run to left center, but UCCS starting pitcher Giugliano was able to end the inning with just the one run allowed. They would then go on to add another run in the top of the second to take a 2-0 lead.
- The Mountain Lions had two batters reach safely with no outs in the bottom of the second before Redd came up to the plate and took the first lead of the series for UCCS with a three-run blast to left field. Kailey Bond came in to pitch in relief at the top of the third and retired the side in order with two strikeouts as the Mountain Lions held the lead.
- Bond completed another shutdown inning before the Mountain Lions plated another run in the fourth on a single by Redd to make it 4-2. With no score in the fifth, the ThunderWolves led off the sixth with another solo home run to left center as the UCCS lead fell to one.
- With no runs in the bottom of the sixth, Charlee Hoover came out to pitch in the top of the seventh and gave up a solo shot to the first batter of the inning as the score moved to four apiece. The ThunderWolves would go on to score four more and take a late 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Mountain Lions would score one more run to drop the final game of the series 5-8.
STATS FROM GAME TWO
- Goldsworth and Redd were the leaders for the Mountain Lions with two hits, as the team finished with six total.
- Two different Mountain Lions notched an RBI in the second game of Friday's double header (Gutierrez, and Redd).
- Giugliano started the game inside the circle for the Mountain Lions and pitched two innings and allowed two runs (two earned).
- Kailey Bond pitched four innings in relief and allowed two hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strikeouts. Hoover (4-3) recorded the loss, pitching one inning in relief and allowed six hits and five runs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Bond's six strikeouts were the second most she has notched in a game this season.
- Redd's four RBIs were the most she has tallied in a game this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will play games one and two of their four game series against Black Hills State University. The first game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and the second is at 2:00 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.
