PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - April 21, 2013) - In what was supposed to be a celebration for the CSU-Pueblo softball teams six departing seniors, turned foul as the Regis Rangers went on to defeat the Pack, 13-7 and 6-3, in the final home games of the season at Rawlings Complex.
Offensively the Pack got off to a hot start, starting from where they left off in game two of the doubleheader Saturday. The Pack batters produced 11 total hits and seven runs before chasing starting Ranger pitcher, Sydney Gaffin.
Ariel Lopez (So., Fontana, Calif.) led the way as she finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a towering home run to left field that put the Pack ahead 4-3 in the third inning.
The damage continued in the fourth inning as the Pack knocked across three additional runs to extend the lead to 7-4. Justine Bosio (Sr., Santa Barbara, Calif.) connected on a single to the pitcher, before McKenzie Joseph (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.) drew a bases-loaded walk. Lopez would push across one last run on a fielder's choice to cap the Pack's strong inning.
From there it was all Rangers as a combination of walks and errors helped pace the team offensively. Starting pitcher Kelli Henry (So., Monument, Colo.) suffered her worst outing of the season as she surrendered 11 hits and eight walks, while being hit for nine earned runs. Defensively, the Pack didn't give her much help as they committed four errors to help aid Regis.
Game two turned into a pitching battle as Bosio and Nicole Hull squared off. The Rangers offense struck late as they went on to win the game 6-3 in extra innings.
Trouble began brewing in the seventh inning as the Rangers trailed 3-2. After leadoff batter Alyssa Beskid was able to reach on a single to center field, a single by Shannon Massine helped tie the game and move the game to extra innings.
In extra innings Keala Bertulfo's single to left field pushed across what proved to be the game-winning run as the Rangers went on to score three in the inning.
Dora Hernandez (Fr., Benton City, Wash.) paced the Pack at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Three other Pack players finished the game with one hit a piece.
The Pack close out the regular season next weekend in Colorado Springs when they face UC-Colorado Springs and Colorado Mines in RMAC pod play. Game one against the Mountain Lions is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. Game two against the first-place Orediggers is scheduled for noon.
