PUEBLO, Colo. (April, 23, 2016) - Colorado State University-Pueblo softball reached its longest win streak in three seasons following a doubleheader sweep of New Mexico Highlands Saturday at Rawlings Softball Complex. The Pack's win streak hit nine games after a 10-1 five-inning win over the Cowgirls in game one and a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
CSU-Pueblo scattered 15 hits in the two games including homeruns from Lexie Martindale (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) in game one and Michaela Burpee (Fr., Union City, Calif.) in game two.
In the series opener, the ThunderWolves used two big scoring innings in cruising past the Cowgirls. The Pack pounced on Highlands starting pitcher Madison Davis in the second inning, scoring four runs on three hits in the frame. Burpee highlighted the inning with a two-run double plating the first two runs.
Two sacrifice groundouts scored the other two runs in the inning.
Pack starting pitcher Hope Davalos (R-Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) picked up the win in another effective outing in the circle, allowing one run and one hit with three strikeouts in five innings pitched.
CSU-Pueblo put the game out of reach in the home half of the fourth, scoring six runs on four hits and capitalizing on two Cowgirl errors.
The inning was highlighted with a grand slam homerun off the bat of designated player Martindale, her third homer of the season.
Davalos retired the side in the final inning, shutting the door in the run-ruled shortened game.
In game two the Pack offense remained hot at the plate, scoring two runs in the second inning on a two-run blast from Burpee, scoring Kennedy Smith (Jr., Fillmore, Calif.) who led off the inning with a double off the left field wall.
The ThunderWolves tacked on another run in the third when Dora Hernandez (Sr., Benton City, Wash.) led off with a double, later scoring on an RBI-single by Smith.
Starting pitcher Madison Wolfe (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.) went the distance, throwing her sixth complete game of the season, giving up one run on two hits and striking out six Cowgirl batters.
Three Pack players finished the day with three hits with Smith finishing with two doubles.
Entering the final day of the regular season Sunday, CSU-Pueblo (16-29, 15-19 RMAC) sits ninth in the RMAC standings and need two victories Sunday combined with a Western New Mexico loss to clinch a spot in the conference tournament Apr. 28-30 in Grand Junction, the site of regular season champion Colorado Mesa University.
Sunday's doubleheader is scheduled for an 11 a.m. first pitch and feature a pregame ceremony honoring the four Pack seniors who will play their final home games as members of the Pack. Hernandez, Wolfe, Sydney Bronson (Evergreen, Colo.) and Sarah Ditommaso (Lake Forest, Calif.) will each be honored.
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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.
