By Andres Madrid
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - (GoThunderWolves.com - March 29, 2014) - With one month remaining in the regular season for the Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team, they headed into this weekend's pod style series versus Regis and Colorado Mesa in third place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
After one day, the Pack are now in first after they won both of their games on Saturday, defeating Regis, 8-6 before taking out host Colorado Mesa, which had entered the day leading the RMAC standings, 8-4.
In the opening game of the weekend for the Pack, facing a Regis team who, over the last few seasons has had their way with the ThunderWolves, CSU-Pueblo held on to win a wild game.
The two teams battled in a scoreless game through two innings when in the bottom of the third inning, starting pitcher and reigning RMAC-Pitcher of the Week, Kelli Henry (Jr., Monument, Colo.) allowed a walk which was then followed with a two-run home run by Taylor Wilcox giving the Rangers the early 2-0 lead.
CSU-Pueblo offense would not stay quiet for long, scoring their first runs the following inning in the top of the fourth when Dora Hernandez (So., Benton City, Wash.) led off the with a double down the left field line, followed with a triple to right-center field by Ariel Lopez (Jr., Fontana, Calif.), scoring Hernandez to pull the Pack within one, at 2-1.
One out later, a single to center field by senior third baseman Lacey Chesser (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.) scored Lopez from second base, tying the ball game at two apiece.
Henry had a rough fourth inning as she gave up three runs on three hits for the Rangers, to go with a wild pitch, and a fielding error, put Regis up 5-2 through four innings.
Patience at the plate has been key this season for the ThunderWolves, such was the case Saturday when in the top of the fifth inning, with two outs and Shelby Hetzel (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) who had reached base on a Regis fielding error, on first base, set the stage for the middle of the lineup, consisting of Hernandez, Lopez, and designated hitter Madison Wolfe (So., Oxnard, Calif.). Allowing a walk to Hernandez, followed with a single to centerfield by Lopez, loading the bases for Wolfe who drew a two-out walk, scoring Hetzel.
With the hottest hitter in the Pack lineup as of late, up next in Chesser, and with the bases loaded, the senior blasted a grand slam homerun, giving her five RBIs in the game and gave the ThunderWolves the lead, 7-5. The homerun for Chesser is her fourth of the season, all of which have come within the last two weeks.
Another run in the top of the sixth inning for the Pack came by way of a leadoff double by Kennedy Smith (Fr., Fillmore, Calif.), who would later score on a groundout, would be all the support needed as Wolfe would pitch a one-two-three bottom of the seventh to pick up the win and improve her record to 5-7.
In the second game of the day, facing league-leading Colorado Mesa, the Pack would strike first when lead-off hitter Jasmine Vogel (Jr., Oceanside, Calif.) reached on a four-pitch walk and would advance to third on two groundball outs before scoring on a RBI-triple to right-centerfield by Lopez.
The same duo of Vogel and Lopez would give the Pack a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Vogel led off the inning with a single through the right side, notching a stolen base and would later score again on an RBI-double from Lopez.
CSU-Pueblo starting pitcher Madison Wolfe (So., Oxnard, Calif.) who coasted through the first two innings, giving up only two hits, was rattled for four runs on just two Mavericks hits, after surrendering a grand slam to Mavericks hitter Sarah Philli. The Pack also committed one fielding error in the inning.
The Pack quickly responded with four runs of their own in the top half of the fourth inning. With one out, shortstop Moriah Turney (Fr., Brighton, Colo.) hit a single to rightfield, advancing to second on a wild pitch. A walk and another single by the next two hitters in Smith, and Sidney Bailey (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) would load the bases for Vogel who would hit a sacrafice flyball, scoring Turney.
Alexa Snyder (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) would then hit a bases clearing 2-RBI triple down the right field line. Hernandez would then connect on an RBI-single to left field, scoring Snyder and giving the Pack a 6-4 lead.
A two-run, five hit top of the fifth inning would give Wolfe and the Pack all the cushion needed as Wolfe would only give up three more singles in the final three innings to take the win, 8-4.
Wolfe improves her record to 7-3 on the season.
The Pack had several batters who had big games, led by Lopez who went 5-for-8, with one double and two triples hit in the two games. Hernandez also contributed big as she went 4-for-8, with a walk, collecting two RBIs on the day.
With the doubleheader sweep CSU-Pueblo (14-13, 11-5 RMAC) vaulted into the RMAC lead a half-game ahead of Metro State (16-8, 10-5), who sweept their doubleheader with Adams State, and percentage points ahead of the now 13-7 Mavericks.
The same three teams will conclude the final day of the pod style series on Sunday with CSU-Pueblo facing Colorado Mesa in a scheduled 10 am start, followed by a tangle with Regis to wrap up the Pack's part of the pod. Regis and Colorado Mesa will then play at 2 p.m.
