LAS VEGAS, NM (March 22, 2015) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team earned a split of a doubleheader Sunday at New Mexico Highlands, the ThunderWolves fell 5-4 in extra innings in game one before rebounding with a convincing 14-3 win in the weekend finale at Highlands Softball Field.
In the first game, CSU-Pueblo scored an early run in the opening frame, capitalizing on a fielding error by the Cowgirl defense.
The Pack scored three runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Sidney Bailey (Sr., OF, Pueblo, Colo.), she later scored on a single up the middle by Dora Hernandez (Jr., OF, Benton City, Wash.) extending the lead 4-0.
Highlands responded with three runs in the home half, all four hits in the inning were singles, cutting the Pack lead 4-3 through two innings.
Starting pitcher for the ThunderWolves, Kelli Henry (Sr., Monument, Colo.) held the Cowgirls silent over the next two innings, not allowing a hit over that span.
The Cowgirls would even the score in the fifth, Highlands Marissa Valencia crossed the plate on a one-out single.
The score remained tied over the final two innings, taking the game into extra innings.
In the extra frame, CSU-Pueblo was unable to score a leadoff walk, heading to the bottom of the eighth.
Highlands scored the game winner with one out on a defensive miscue by the Pack, falling 5-4 in 8-innings.
Henry was tagged with the loss, falling to 5-4 this season. Henry threw 7.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits to go with three strikeouts. She did not allow a walk in the contest.
Game two had the ThunderWolves with an offensive explosion, scoring three runs in the opening inning. Alexa Snyder (Sr., 2B, Pueblo, Colo.) led off the game with a triple to centerfield, scoring on a one-out single by Chrystal Reese (Jr., Pilot Point, Tex.).
The Pack took advantage of two errors in the inning for the next two runs and a 3-0 lead.
Highlands scored two in the bottom of the first inning.
CSU-Pueblo tallied two more runs in the second on three hits. Reese and Madison Wolfe (Jr., Oxnard, Calif.) each did enough at the plate to earn RBIs and benefited from another Cowgirl error to lead 5-2.
Yvanna Bejarano (Sr., P, Thatcher, Ariz.) began the game in the circle for the ThunderWolves before being replaced with Wolfe with one out in the second inning.
Wolfe retired the next two hitters avoiding any scoring damage.
CSU-Pueblo registered two more runs in the fourth inning on a two-run triple down the left field line by Reese, scoring Snyder and Bailey who had reached on a single and fielding error, respectively, stretching the lead 7-2 after four innings.
The Pack offense erupted for seven runs on six hits in the top of the fifth. The inning was highlighted by two-run singles by Bailey and Reese, and three doubles in the frame, put the game out of reach 14-2.
One run scored in the bottom of the fifth for NMHU was not enough as the ThunderWolves came away with a 14-3 victory in 5-innings.
Wolfe earned the win, improving to 6-5 on the season.
Snyder led the Pack offensively, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a triple and four runs scored, while Reese hit 3-for-4 with a triple and a season-high six RBIs recorded.
The heart of the ThunderWolves lineup each went 2-for-4 in the game.
CSU-Pueblo (13-15, 9-7 RMAC) will remain on the road next week and play at Colorado Christian University beginning Saturday in Lakewood, Colo.
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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.
