By Andres Madrid
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - (GoThunderWolves.com - March 30, 2014) - Using a balanced offensive attack, the CSU-Pueblo softball team was able to come away with another doubleheader sweep on Sunday, first against Colorado Mesa, winning a 14-4 contest in a five innings-mercy rule game; followed by a come-from-behind 6-5 win versus Regis.
Facing the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa to begin the day, the Pack jumped out to another first inning lead when with one out, Alexa Snyder (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) hit an infield single, advancing to second on a stolen base. Three-hole hitter, Dora Hernandez (So., Benton City, Wash.) blasted a 2-run homerun over the left field wall for the early 2-0 lead.
Moriah Turney (Fr., Brighton, Colo.) led off the top of the second with a double down the right field line, and would score following an RBI-single from Kennedy Smith (Fr., Fillmore, Calif.).
Head coach of the ThunderWolves Christie Zinanti has urged her squad to play with consistency this season and that they did as the offense was ignited the next two innings as they tallied eleven runs on just six hits to go along with three bases loaded walks allowed, finishing off the Mavericks.
Pack thrower Kelli Henry (Jr., Monument, Colo.) got the starting nod in the circle and was virtually untouchable, giving up only four hits in five innings pitched. Her only blemish coming in the third inning when Henry would allow four runs on three hits, including a three-run homer from the Mavericks' Makayla Kova.
In the final game of the weekend against Regis, things were a lot closer.
With a scoreless game through two innings, Regis got on the scoreboard first on a Pack throwing error. Two additional runs in the following inning would give the Rangers a 3-0 lead through 3 1/2 innings.
Ariel Lopez (Jr., Fontana, Calif.) would get things going in the fourth, hitting a one-out infield single. Another out later, Lacey Chesser (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.) was hit by a pitch, followed by a walk to Turney, setting the stage for Smith who hit a 2-RBI single up the middle, scoring Chesser and Lopez.
Later in the same inning, Jasmine Vogel (Jr., Oceanside, Calif.) knocked a double down the left field line, propelling the Pack in the lead 4-3.
Regis would regain the lead in the fifth at 5-4.
Solo homeruns from Lopez and Vogel in each of the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, would give the Pack the lead for good at 6-5.
The ThunderWolves starter Madison Wolfe (So., Oxnard, Calif.) went 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs scored, while striking out four hitters. Wolfe improved her record to 8-3.
Samantha Avii (Sr., San Diego, Calif.) was called on to pitch in relief in the fifth inning. Avii shutdown any further threats as she did not allow a hit while only walking one batter in 2+ innings pitched.
In what is becoming one of the more dangerous, and potent lineups in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the CSU-Pueblo softball team concluded the four-game pod series gathering 43 hits over the weekend en route to jumping atop the RMAC-standings.
CSU-Pueblo (16-13, 13-5 RMAC) currently one-half game ahead of UC-Colorado Springs (17-9, 13-6 RMAC) in the standings will return home next weekend to play host to Chadron State (14-16, 11-8 RMAC). The first game is scheduled for noon on Saturday at the Rawlings Softball Complex.
