COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team fell 4-17 in its first game and claimed a 10-5 victory in the second in Friday's double header against Metropolitan State University of Denver.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1/5: UCCS 4, MSUD 17 | Game 2: UCCS 10, MSUD 5
Records: UCCS (31-20, 25-17 RMAC), MSUD (34-18, 27-15 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 17-32 all-time against the Roadrunners.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Roadrunners started the game by taking an early 1-0 lead after a one out home run to straightaway center off UCCS starting pitcher Janessa Giugliano. The Mountain Lions responded in the bottom of the first as Alyssa Gutierrez came around to score on a double by Addy Baxter. Baxter soon scored on a single up the middle off the bat of Tayler McCombs as UCCS held a 2-1 lead heading into the second inning.
- Jennavieve Goldsworth helped add on to the UCCS lead with a single to left field, plating two more runs in the bottom of the second. Victoria Pearson of MSUD soon went on to lead off the third inning with a home run to center field before the team took a 7-4 lead.
- The Mountain Lions were retired in order in the bottom of the third inning before the Roadrunners tacked on six more to take a 13-4 lead. The top of the fifth inning did not go much better for the Mountain Lions as MSUD added four more runs on three hits before going on to take a 17-4 victory in five innings due to a mercy rule.
STATS FROM GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions recorded four runs and six hits in the first game of Friday's double header while drawing one walk.
- Six Mountain Lions recorded a hit in game one, as Goldsworth led the team with two RBIs.
- Giugliano drew the start for UCCS inside the circle and tossed 3.1 innings while allowing 10 runs (10 earned) on eight hits and five walks.
- Hannah Hunt pitched 1.2 innings in relief and surrendered seven runs (six earned) on six hits, two strikeouts, and two walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Riding the momentum of game one, the Roadrunners took an early lead in game two after a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The Mountain Lions answered in the bottom of the first inning with a run of their own as Goldsworth came around to score to make it a 2-1 game.
- After a scoreless top of the second inning, the Mountain Lions took a 6-2 lead as Mackenzie Scott, Laynee Case, Halley Redd, Goldsworth, and Gutierrez came around to score. The UCCS lineup continued to score in the third, plating a run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brooke Bornitz followed by another sacrifice from Gutierrez to take an 8-2 lead.
- After pitching a solid four innings, UCCS starting pitcher Charlee Hoover allowed three runs in the fifth before being relieved by Kailey Bond. The first two batters that Bond faced would reach safely, but a great catch on the warning track by Bornitz and a putout at third limited the damage to keep the score at 8-5.
- Katie Steinmetz led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to right center field just before Scott hit one of her own to extend the lead to 10-5. The Mountain Lions would hold onto the lead in the seventh, claiming their first victory of the series.
STATS FROM GAME TWO
- Gutierrez led the Mountain Lions with three hits, as the team finished with 13 total.
- Six different Mountain Lions notched an RBI in the second game of Saturday's double header as Goldsworth, Gutierrez, and Steinmetz led the team with two.
- Hoover (5-3) started the game inside the circle for the Mountain Lions and pitched 4.1 innings and allowed five runs (five earned).
- Bond pitched 2.2 innings in relief and allowed two hits, no runs, and two strikeouts.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- McCombs has now reached base safely in 30 straight games after her single in game one.
- After both games on Friday, Gutierrez now holds a nine-game hitting streak.
- Gutierrez is now 15-for-30 in her last nine games with three walks as well.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will finish their four-game series against MSU Denver tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd. 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.
