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UCCS Athletics

Softball Season Recap
Isaiah J. Downing

2026 UCCS Softball Season Recap

6/4/2026 10:00:00 AM

By: Tyler Tvelia, Sports Information Director
UCCS SOFTBALL SEASON IN-REVIEW
  • The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team put together another strong campaign in 2026 under the leadership of third-year head coach Dwight Sanders as the program posted a 33-22 overall record and 26-18 conference record on their way to a second consecutive appearance in the RMAC Softball Tournament.
  • The Mountain Lions opened the 2026 season with a pair of non-conference tournaments and got off to a hot start in their opening weekend of action at the South Central Regional Crossover in Los Lunas, N.M., going 4-1 with their only defeat coming at the hands of then-No. 8 nationally ranked West Texas A&M University. UCCS returned home the following weekend to host the Southern Colorado Crossover tournament at Mountain Lion Field and went 2-2, finishing their non-conference slate with a 6-3 record.
  • Following a weekend off, the Mountain Lions kicked off their RMAC schedule on Feb. 21 with an inconsistent stretch of play as they recorded a 5-9 record across their first 14 conference games including a four-game sweep at the hands of then-No. 18 nationally ranked Colorado Christian University. After dropping three straight games to close that span, the Mountain Lions found their rhythm and rattled off 13 wins in their next 14 games, including series-sweeps against New Mexico Highlands University and Adams State University and a series-win at Colorado Mesa University, marking their first three wins against the Mavericks since the 2021 campaign.
  • Following their mid-season surge, UCCS saw its momentum slowed by a four-game sweep against Colorado State University Pueblo but responded by finishing the regular season on a strong note, posting an 8-4 record over their final three series, closing with a 32-21 overall mark and a 26-18 record in conference play to secure the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.
  • As the fifth seed in the RMAC's newly adopted single-elimination tournament format, the Mountain Lions drew fourth-seeded Colorado Mesa in the quarterfinal round and managed to hang on for a 6-5 victory over the Mavericks to advance to the semifinals. In the RMAC semifinal game against No. 1 seed and No. 6 nationally ranked Colorado Christian, the Mountain Lions played the Cougars tight throughout the contest but ultimately saw their season come to an end as they fell by a score of 6-3.
AWARD WINNERS
Jacqueline Berkowitz: CSC Academic All-District, RMAC All-Academic First Team
Brooke Bornitz: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Laynee Case: All-RMAC Second Team, RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Brynna Frey: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Jennavieve Goldsworth: NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watch List, D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team, All-RMAC Second Team, Two-time RMAC Player of the Week (Feb. 3, April 7), RMAC Softball All-Tournament Team, RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Alyssa Gutierrez: NFCA Division II Player and Pitcher of the Year Watch List, All-RMAC Second Team, RMAC Gold Glove, CSC Academic All-District, RMAC All-Academic First Team
Hannah Hunt: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Autumn Kunze: All-RMAC First Team, Week 12 RMAC Pitcher of the Week (April 28), RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Tayler McCombs: D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team, All-RMAC First Team
Gianna Pancost: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Halley Redd: All-RMAC Honorable Mention, RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Mackenzie Scott: RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
Katie Steinmetz: All-RMAC Honorable Mention, RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
  • For the second consecutive year, the Mountain Lions fielded one of the most prolific offenses in the RMAC and NCAA Division II.
    • UCCS finished the season ranked among the top three teams in the RMAC in nearly every major offensive category as they led the conference in stolen bases (137), ranked second in the league in batting average (.356), hits (564), RBIs (345), runs per game (6.95), and slugging percentage (.536), and finished third in the conference in doubles (101), triples (23), and on-base percentage (.412).
    • The Mountain Lions also ended the season ranked inside the top 25 in NCAA Division II for multiple statistical categories, including batting average (5th), hits (10th), slugging percentage (10th), runs per game (11th), stolen bases (11th), RBIs (13th), triples (13th), doubles (18th), and on-base percentage (24th).
  • Junior utility player Jennavieve Goldsworth was at the forefront of the Mountain Lions' offensive success throughout the season as she put together a breakout season that saw her lead the RMAC with a .472 batting average and 39 stolen bases. A starter in each of the team's 55 games, Goldsworth also finished second in the conference with 92 hits and a .529 on-base percentage while tying for second with 18 doubles and 66 runs scored and ranking third with 144 total bases. An All-RMAC Second Team and D2CCA All-Region Second Team honoree, the third-year player also made a name for herself on the national stage as she ranked among the top 20 in all of NCAA Division II for hits (8th), runs scored (T10th), batting average (13th), stolen bases (17th), and total bases (19th).
  • A member of the All-RMAC Second Team, senior Alyssa Gutierrez emerged as another offensive catalyst for the Mountain Lions in her final season wearing the black and gold as she was among the conference leaders in multiple categories, finishing fourth in stolen bases (32), tied for fourth in triples (6), fifth in batting average (.433), and 10th in runs scored (50). In addition to her important contributions in the lineup, Gutierrez was one of the top defenders in the league as she was selected for a spot on the RMAC Gold Glove team as an outfielder, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 70 total defensive chances.
  • An All-RMAC First Team and D2CCA All-Region Second Team honoree, sophomore Tayler McCombs composed another stellar season as the Mountain Lions' primary designated player as she closed the season ranked fourth on the team with a .375 batting average across 45 games played. The second-year player notched 10 doubles, two triples, and four home runs while driving in 34 runs and posting a .441 on-base percentage.
  • Laynee Case started all 55 games at the keystone for the Mountain Lions during her junior season and continued to provide steady production in the middle of the lineup, earning a spot as a member of the All-RMAC Second Team. The third-year infielder posted a .357 batting average across 182 plate appearances while ranking third on the team in doubles (12) and RBIs (38) and finishing fourth on the squad in triples (3), home runs (7), and stolen bases (11).
  • Junior Gianna Pancost started each of the team's 55 games at first base, posting a .331 batting average across 207 plate appearances while serving as one of the Mountain Lions' most consistent run producers. Pancost finished the season with the fifth-most RBIs in the conference with 51, while sitting tied for the team lead with eight home runs and ranking third on the squad in total bases (96) and walks (19). Pancost also provided value outside of the batter's box, going a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts while maintaining a .973 fielding percentage with 310 putouts and nine assists in 328 total defensive chances at first base.
  • Senior Katie Steinmetz and freshman Addy Baxter split time as the Mountain Lions' primary catchers throughout the season with both players providing exceptional offensive production. In 49 games and 22 starts behind the dish, Steinmetz was an All-RMAC Honorable Mention after finishing third on the team with a .382 batting average and tied for the team lead with eight home runs while also accruing seven doubles, a triple, and 30 RBIs. Baxter also emerged as a solid backstop during her first collegiate season, appearing in 33 games and making 29 starts while posting a .317 batting average with seven doubles, four triples, three home runs, and 17 RBIs.
  • Sophomore Halley Redd continued to be a mainstay at shortstop in her sophomore season as she collected All-RMAC Honorable Mention recognition, starting each of the Mountain Lions' 55 contests and posting a .367 batting average with 13 doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 31 RBIs.
  • The Mountain Lions finished the season ranked near the top of the conference as a team inside the circle, posting the fifth-lowest team ERA in the RMAC at 4.74 while boasting the fourth-lowest WHIP at 1.66 and leading the league in strikeouts per seven innings (4.99).
  • All-RMAC First Team pitcher Autumn Kunze anchored the Mountain Lions' pitching staff throughout the season as she finished the season with the third-lowest individual ERA among qualified pitchers in the league with a career-best mark of 2.79. The senior hurler posted a 14-5 record while ranking second in the conference in saves (4), tied for third in shutouts (4), and fourth in WHIP (1.29).
  • Senior Kailey Bond also served as a key piece of the staff as she finished second on the squad with a 4.68 ERA across 88.1 innings pitched, going 9-8 with two saves and 57 strikeouts.
  • Freshman Janessa Giugliano and junior Charlee Hoover gobbled up many of the remaining innings for UCCS with Giugliano posting a 7.04 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 61.2 innings pitched and Hoover notching a 5.79 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
HOT TAKES
  • The Mountain Lions collected 33 wins for the second consecutive season under head coach Dwight Sanders, marking the sixth time in program history reaching the 30-win threshold.
  • The UCCS Softball program has now recorded 30+ wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the mid-2000s when the team achieved the milestone in four straight campaigns from 2004-07.
  • UCCS established a new program record for total hits in a single season, posting 564 hits on the season to break the previous record of 546 that was established during the 2007 season.
  • The Mountain Lions recorded 10+ hits in 30 of their 55 games this season, and their average of 10.25 hits per game registers as the new program record for a single season.
  • The Mountain Lions' 21 hits in their 13-3 victory over Colorado Mesa on March 29 are tied for the third most in a single game in program history.
  • With 92 hits on the season, Goldsworth established a new program record for hits in a single season, breaking Stacy Haney's long-standing mark of 84 that was set during the 2007 season. Goldsworth also notched the third-most hits per game in a single season in program history, recording an average of 1.673 hits per game during the 2026 season.
  • With 62 hits this year, Redd tied for the most hits during a sophomore season in program history, matching teammate Gianna Pancost's mark from last season.
  • The Mountain Lions have a trio of student-athletes who will enter the 2027 campaign within striking distance of the top 10 in program history for career hits with Goldsworth (176), Pancost (166), and Case (156) each in range. Emily Jennings (2012-15) holds the No. 10 mark on the top 10 list with 192 hits in her career, while Brittni Carlson holds the all-time program record in the category with 234 hits in her career.
  • With her five-hit performance against Sul Ross State University in the season-opener on Jan. 30, Goldsworth became just the fourth student-athlete in program history to record five hits in a single game.
  • The Mountain Lions had two of the toughest batters to strikeout in all of NCAA Division II in their lineup throughout 2026 in Steinmetz and Goldsworth. Steinmetz finished the year as the second-toughest batter to strikeout as she recorded just one strikeout in 100 plate appearances, while Goldsworth ranked 17th in the category with just four strikeouts in 228 plate appearances.
  • UCCS had a pair of notable on-base streaks throughout the regular season, including a 30-game stretch for McCombs from March 7 through May 1 and a 24-game streak from Feb. 27 through April 3 for Goldsworth.
  • Goldsworth posted the longest hitting streak of the season for the Mountain Lions with a 13-game stretch from March 15 through April 3 in which she recorded a .604 batting average (29-for-48) with 21 runs scored, 14 RBIs, five doubles, three triples, one home run, six walks, and 12 stolen bases.
  • UCCS' senior pitching duo of Kunze and Bond both etched their names into the UCCS softball record book this season with Kunze finishing her career ranked fourth all-time in program history with 346 strikeouts and Bond ranking 10th all-time with 199 career strikeouts. Kunze also ended her four-year career ranked eighth all-time in strikeouts per seven innings with a mark of 5.42.
  • The Mountain Lions were one of just five teams in NCAA Division II to turn a triple play during the regular season, with Redd turning a 6-3 triple play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning of the Mountain Lions' matchup at Colorado Mesa on March 29.
SOCIAL
X - @GoMountainLions 
Instagram - @gomountainlions  
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions 
  
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. 

 
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