LAKEWOOD, Colo. (April 15, 2016) – With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team continued to remain hot offensively as the Pack swept a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games Friday in a pod series at Lakewood Sports Park.
CSU-Pueblo (14-29, 13-19 RMAC) defeated Fort Lewis College 8-7 in nine innings in game one before holding on for a 10-9 win in the nightcap against host-Regis University.
In game one against Fort Lewis, the ThunderWolves jumped to a 3-0 lead in their first at bat on a Kennedy Smith (Jr., Fillmore, Calif.) three-run double to the gap in left centerfield.
Fort Lewis, the designated home team, plated two runs in the second inning cutting the Pack lead to 3-2.
CSU-Pueblo added a run in the third inning on an RBI-double off the bat of Dora Hernandez (Sr., Benton City, Wash.).
The Skyhawks took their first lead of the game at 5-4 in the fourth, scoring three runs on two hits in the inning.
FLC extended the lead to 7-4, plating two runs in the home half of the sixth.
Down by the three-run deficit and two outs in the seventh, Lexie Martindale (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) came through in a big way for the Pack, crushing a game tying 3-run homerun to centerfield taking the game into extra innings.
Following a scoreless eighth inning, CSU-Pueblo opened the ninth inning loading the bases and Martindale earned her fourth RBI of the game, drawing a walk to give the Pack the one-run advantage.
The Skyhawks went down quietly in the final at bat with Pack pitcher Madison Wolfe (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.) struck out two in the ninth to secure the win.
In game two against pod-host Regis, CSU-Pueblo's offense remained on fire, putting up a six-spot in the opening inning on five hits. Martindale and Smith collected RBI-singles along with a Michaela Burpee (Fr., Union City, Calif.) two-run double highlighted the inning.
Wolfe also earned an RBI in the inning after being hit by the pitch with the bases loaded.
CSU-Pueblo added two more runs in the second on an Hernandez RBI-double, her second of the day, and RBI-single from Burpee.
The Rangers offense came alive in the next half inning, scoring nine runs in the frame on seven hits to take a 9-8 lead after two innings.
The ThunderWolves regained the lead in their next at bat, Morgan Hatfield (Fr., Upland, Calif.) led off hitting her first collegiate homerun, a solo shot to right field. Smith added another RBI-single for a 10-9 Pack lead.
Martindale tossed 5.2 innings in relief, allowing one run on four hits from the Rangers, evening her record at 2-2 this season.
In two games Hernandez collected five hits including two doubles. Nicole Montoya (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) and Turney finished with four hits apiece and Smith with three hits and five RBIs.
CSU-Pueblo will play the same two teams Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. against Fort Lewis at Lakewood Sports Park.
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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.
