SILVER CITY, N.M. (February 21, 2015) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team won its first two conference games Saturday, defeating Western New Mexico 7-6, followed with a 10-6 win versus Chadron State in game two.
Opening the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference portion of the schedule in a pod series at Western New Mexico softball field, the Pack had strong day in the doubleheader sweep.
In game one, CSU-Pueblo took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on a two-run homerun by Jasmine Vogel (Sr., OF, Oceanside, Calif.), her first of the season, scoring Sidney Bailey (Sr., OF, Pueblo, Colo.) who had reached via base on balls.
Three more Pack runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning on four hits including a bases loaded walk earned by Vogel, collecting her third RBI of the game.
Kennedy Smith (So., C, Fillmore, Calif.) had a strong game, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate including a triple and two RBIs.
Starting in the circle for the ThunderWolves, Kelli Henry (Sr., Monument, Colo.) pitched four innings, allowing five runs and striking out three. Henry hit a snag in the bottom of the fourth, with three runs scored including a two-run homerun tying the game 5-5 entering the fifth inning.
CSU-Pueblo took the lead in the top of the sixth on a leadoff walk by Alyssa Ubrun (Fr., 3B, Olympia, Wash.) followed with an RBI-triple by Smith who later scored on a passed ball extending the lead 7-5.
Yvanna Bejarano (Sr., P, Thatcher, Ariz.) who had come on to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning, had an effective outing in holding WNMU to one run, scattering five hits in three innings to pick up the win and improve to 1-1 this season.
In the second game against Chadron State, the Eagles took an early 2-0 lead through the first two innings before the Pack offense came alive.
The ThunderWolves scored their first run of the game in the second inning on a leadoff triple by Ubrun, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Smith, cutting the lead 2-1.
One run scored by the Eagles in the top of the fourth inning extended the lead.
CSU-Pueblo was led both offensively and in the pitchers circle by Madison Wolfe (Jr., Oxnard, Calif.) who had her best outing both on the mound and at the plate.
Wolfe belted a grand slam homerun, her second of the season, in the fourth inning to straight away center field, giving the Pack a 5-3 lead. Wolfe also threw for seven innings on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits, and striking out a season-high nine hitters.
Wolfe improves to 2-2 this season.
The ThunderWolves would add to the lead 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run blast by Smith over the center field wall, her first of the season.
Chadron State scored three runs in the sixth to get within one at 7-6.
Ubrun added insurance hitting a three-run homerun, her first as a member of the Pack, to give the ThunderWolves a 10-6 lead in the sixth inning.
A one-two-three seventh including two strikeouts for Wolfe secured the win.
Smith had a strong day offensively hitting 4-for-7 (.571) with one homerun, one triple and five RBIs, scoring two runs in two games. CSU-Pueblo (6-8, 2-0 RMAC) will play the same two teams Sunday beginning at noon against Chadron State at WNMU softball field.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
