BY Andres Madrid
ALAMOSA, Colo. - (GoThunderWolves.com - April 19, 2014) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team completed the four game series against Adams State with a 12-11 victory in game one, following that with an 8-6 win in extra innings.
In game one Saturday, the Pack scored two runs in the opening inning, the first run coming on an RBI double by Dora Hernandez (So., Benton City, Wash.) and the second on a wild pitch later in the inning.
The Grizzlies of Adams State also would score two runs in their half of the first inning.
With one out in the second inning, Brittany Styger (Jr., Kent, Wash.) doubled for the Pack, advancing to third on a groundout. Styger would score in the next play as Jasmine Vogel (Jr., Oceanside, Calif.) reached base on an error on the shortstop.
Alexa Snyder (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) was next to the plate and she belted her third homerun of the season, taking a 5-2 lead.
Starting in the circle for the Pack Kelli Henry (Jr., Monument, Colo.) had one of her toughest outings as of late, allowing eight runs on ten hits in only 3 1/3 innings worked.
Allowing a leadoff homerun in the fourth inning, followed by four straight reaching base would end the day for Wolfe, as Lexie Martindale (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) was called on in relief and allowed a homerun to the first batter she faced, capping off the big inning scoring barrage with Adams State leading 9-5.
CSU-Pueblo would get one run closer in the fifth inning on doubles from Wolfe and Styger.
Down 10-6 heading into the final inning, the Pack never gave up, having had the first three hitters in Wolfe, Lacey Chesser (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.), and Moriah Turney (Fr., Brighton, Colo.) all reach base with three singles.
With one out, Kennedy Smith (Fr., Fillmore, Calif.) came on to pinch-hit, drawing the bases loaded walk, scoring Wolfe.
The next hitter in Vogel hit a 2-RBI double to center field, closing the gap 10-9, still with only one out.
The reigning-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player of the week Ariel Lopez (Jr., Fontana, Calif.) reached on a single and an error, scoring two more runs, giving the Pack an 11-10 lead.
Another bases loaded walk to Chesser would prove big as it gave the Pack a two run lead at 12-10.
Yvanna Bejarano (Jr., Thatcher, Ariz.) would come on to pitch the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Grizzlies two doubles, and bring them within one run. One strikeout and a fly out would end the game with the Grizzlies having runners on first and third base.
Bejarano was credited with the win, improving to 2-2 on the season.
The series finale had as much excitement as the first three games.
Being led offensively by Turney, who went 4-for-4 with one double and drew one walk.
Both teams were quiet in the first two innings before the Pack got on the board first with a three-run spot in the third inning, highlighted by another two-RBI double by Hernandez, who would advance to third and score on the same play thanks to an error on the third baseman.
Doubles by Turney and Vogel, followed by an RBI-single from Snyder would give CSU-Pueblo a 5-0 lead through four innings.
With the score remaining the same heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Pack pitcher Wolfe, who had come on in relief of starter Samantha Avii (Sr., San Diego, Calif.) in the fourth inning, was rocked for five runs on four hits from the Grizzlies, tying the game at five.
No scoring threats in either of the next two innings for either team would set the stage for a ninth-inning rally as Hernandez led off with her fifth homerun of the season, giving the Pack the edge. An two-RBI double from Smith later in the inning was all the Pack would need as they allowed just one run in the bottom of the ninth, snagging the extra-inning affair 8-6.
With the series win, it sets up a big showdown next weekend at home against Metro State, in the RMAC-regular season finale for both teams. CSU-Pueblo (23-18, 20-10 RMAC) trails the Roadrunners (25-11, 19-8 RMAC), who are currently atop the standings by percentage points in the updated conference standings.
The big four-game regular season finale will begin Saturday at noon at the Rawlings Softball Complex. The Pack will also recognize their two outgoing seniors while hosting parent's weekend.
