PUEBLO, Colo. (April 24, 2016) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team's win streak reached double digits Sunday following two wins over New Mexico Highlands on Senior Day to complete the series sweep of the Cowgirls. The streak now at eleven games ties the most consecutive wins since the 2009 season. The sweep led the ThunderWolves in clinching a spot in the upcoming conference tournament.
The Pack (18-29, 17-19 RMAC) entered the final day of the regular season on the outside looking at the postseason picture needing to take care of business against the Cowgirls and they did just that Sunday defeating NMHU 10-2 in six innings in game one followed by a thrilling 5-4 victory in the bottom of the seventh inning securing the sweep.
In game one the ThunderWolves and Cowgirls began a pitcher's dual through the first three innings, the teams combined for six hits before CSU-Pueblo scored the games first runs in the fourth.
Madison Wolfe (Sr., Oxnard, Calif.) led off the inning with a double off the left field wall setting up Lexie Martindale (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) who hit a two-run shot to left and the 2-0 lead.
The Pack offense continued in the next at bat as Kennedy Smith (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) smacked one of her three hits in the game ahead of another two-run blast off the bat of Michaela Burpee (Fr., Union City, Calif.).
In the fifth the Smith-Burpee duo again came through scoring RBI-singles to extend the lead 6-1.
Pack pitcher Hope Davalos (R-Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) retired the Cowgirls in order in the top of the sixth inning sending CSU-Pueblo offense back to work.
In the home half the Pack sent six hitters to the plate highlighted by another double from Smith, scoring two runs closing out the Cowgirls.
Davalos tossed six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out four.
In the series finale NMHU took an early one run lead in the second inning before CSU-Pueblo responded with a run in their at bat on a leadoff homerun by Martindale, her third of the weekend.
The Pack added three more runs in their next at bat as Martindale earned a bases loaded walk for her second RBI of the game. Later in the inning Smith connected a two-run single to right field putting the game at 4-1.
Highlands inched closer over the next three innings eventually tying the game in the top of the sixth.
After a scoreless home part of the sixth and the Cowgirls being retired in order in the seventh, CSU-Pueblo was set up for more late-game heroics.
Dora Hernandez (Sr., Benton City, Wash.) led off the inning with a double hit to the gap in left centerfield, later scoring on another Smith double to virtually the same spot in left center, clinching the win.
CSU-Pueblo hurler Wolfe went the distance giving up four runs on ten hits while striking out seven Cowgirl batters. With the win Wolfe improves her record to 6-8.
The Pack offense finished a stellar weekend against Highlands as they hit .363 on 33 hits, ten doubles and five homeruns in the series.
Smith finished the regular season strong, going 8-for-14 (.571 average) at the plate including five doubles, seven RBIs and 13 total bases earned.
Martindale also had a weekend to remember as she hit a .455 average (5-for-11) at the plate, smacking three homeruns and collecting eight RBIs, five runs and 14 total bases.
In the circle both Davalos led the way with a 2-0 record and an outstanding 0.82 ERA in two appearances. She allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out seven in holding the Cowgirls to a .207 batting average.
Wolfe also was effective in her outings, tossing 14.0 innings and allowed five runs on twelve hits and striking out 13.
During the Pack's eleven game win streak they have hit for a .362 average to go with 25 doubles and a whopping 12 homeruns in that span.
Scoreboard watching for much of the day and needing help from around the conference, CSU-Pueblo learned its postseason fate after sealing the doubleheader sweep and coupled with a Western New Mexico loss against Regis, allowed for the Pack to earn its eleventh consecutive trip to the RMAC Tournament.
The Pack still await official word from the league as to the seed earned and who the Pack will play in the first round. The RMAC Tournament will be played Apr. 28-30 at the site of regular season champion Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.
Along with wrapping up the regular season, CSU-Pueblo celebrated and honored its four departing seniors who played their final home games as members of the Pack. Sydney Bronson (Evergreen, Colo.), Sarah Ditommaso (Lake Forest, Calif.), Hernandez and Wolfe were each recognized in a pregame ceremony.
Check back with www.gothunderwolves.com for the latest RMAC Tournament information including opponent and game time for the Pack.
