PUEBLO, Colo. (April 19, 2015) – Playing the final home games of the 2015 regular season, the Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team completed a four game sweep over Black Hills State Sunday with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory in game one, followed with a 13-7 win in the weekend finale.
Prior to the start of the doubleheader, head coach Christie Zinanti and the rest of the Pack honored the seniors from both teams in a pregame ceremony.
The departing CSU-Pueblo seniors are: Alexa Snyder (Pueblo, Colo.), Kelli Henry (Monument, Colo.), Sidney Bailey (Pueblo, Colo.), Yvanna Bejarano (Thatcher, Ariz.) and Jasmine Vogel (Oceanside, Calif.).
In game one, the Yellow Jackets and ThunderWolves mustered one hit apiece through five innings of play, with the pitching headlining the contest.
Starting in the circle for the ThunderWolves, Henry made quick work of the opposition, retiring BHSU in order through 4.2 innings.
BHSU broke the scoreless tied game in the sixth inning on a RBI-double followed with a single later in the inning, taking a 2-0 lead.
Trailing by two runs heading to the final at-bat, the ThunderWolves put together a string of five hits including a two-run blast by Dora Hernandez (Jr., OF, Benton City, Wash.) tied the game 2-2.
The next two Pack hitters reached base safely, setting the stage for Kennedy Smith (So, C, Fillmore, Calif.) who hit a single down the right field line, scoring the game winning run at 3-2.
Henry finished in the circle, throwing seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned), on five hits while striking out nine hitters. The win is the second of the weekend for Henry as she improves to 12-5 this season.
In the weekend finale, Black Hills St. plated three runs in the opening inning before the CSU-Pueblo offense erupted for an eight spot.
The Pack sent thirteen batters to the plate in the frame, collecting eight runs on eight hits and one defensive error.
Chrystal Reese (Jr., Pilot Point, Tex.) highlighted the inning, hitting her team-leading fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot knotting the game at 3-3 at that time.
Later in the inning, Bailey hit a two-run single, adding to the scoring barrage and an 8-3 lead after the first inning.
Cruising with a five-run lead, pitcher Bejarano tossed her final game at home for the Pack, throwing four innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while in the circle.
Henry was called on in relief in the fifth inning, keeping the Yellow Jackets at bay for the remainder of the game.
The Pack put a five-spot on the board in the fourth inning; Vogel added a two-run single to add to the lead 12-5 through five complete.
The ThunderWolves plated another run in the sixth inning on a RBI single by Reese, adding to her game high of four RBIs.
Bejarano picked up the win, improving to 4-7 this season.
On the weekend, the Pack was led by Snyder who finished 8-for-15 at the plate with seven runs and a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases.
CSU-Pueblo (23-21, 19-13 RMAC) will wrap up the regular season Apr. 25-26 when they travel to Durango, Colo. and play against Fort Lewis College in a four-game series set to begin Saturday at noon at Aspen Field.
-30-
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
