CSU-Pueblo sits ahead of Fort Lewis by .012 percentage points in RMAC standings.
PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - April 6, 2012) - CSU-Pueblo reclaimed first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings Friday after taking two from New Mexico Highlands, winning 3-2 in the early game before run-ruling the Cowgirls 9-1.
The wins, coupled with a Fort Lewis split Friday, puts the ThunderWolves virtually tied with the Skyhawks for first place in the RMAC standings, though the Pack has the edge by .012 percentage points. CSU-Pueblo holds a 19-9 conference record while Fort Lewis is 20-10.
The Pack was ultimately gifted a win in the early game, taking advantage of New Mexico Highlands mistakes to post three runs in the bottom of the first inning and ride the outburst to victory.
After Alexa Snyder (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) led off the game by reaching base on a Highlands error, the Pack's leadoff hitter stole second. After Samantha Rios (Jr., Fullerton, Colo.) reached base on a walk, Snyder attempted to steal third. The throw to third by Cowgirl catcher, Roxanne Avalos, skied to leftfield, and the ensuing throw from Erica Wieck was errant as well, resulting in two errors and two Pack runs - all without a single hit. By the time the Pack got a legit base knock, an RBI single from Lindsey Marmolejo (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.), the ThunderWolves built a 3-0 lead.
Justine Bosio (Jr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) was solid in the circle, retiring the first nine batters before surrendering two runs in the fifth. But despite the challenge, she held strong, only allowing three hits during a six-strikeout complete game performance, claiming her 11th win of the season.
The second game was nowhere near as dramatic as the Pack controlled from the beginning and never hinted at a Highlands comeback. Shannon Traxinger (Sr., Longmont, Colo.) won her fifth straight decision as she handcuffed the Cowgirls for three hits in five innings of work, improving to 5-4.
She benefitted from 11 ThunderWolf hits, including two RBI each from Bosio and Caitlyn Wambeke (Sr., Arvada, Colo.). Bosio hit the day's only homer, going yard to straight away centerfield in the fourth inning.
The Pack will try for a clean sweep of the Cowgirls Saturday as the series concludes with another doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday's doubleheader also will feature the inaugural "Strike Out Cancer" event, in which the softball team will don pink jerseys and T-shirts will be sold to raise money for the St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center's Breast Center of Excellence.
