PUEBLO, Colo. (February 13, 2020) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team will wrap its nonconference schedule this week when they head to Oklahoma and compete in the Edmond Regional Festival II, hosted by Oklahoma Christian and Oklahoma Baptist in Edmond, Okla. The Pack will battle against five regional opponents including two teams they faced in last week's season opening tournament.

The Pack are scheduled to face St. Edward's and (RV) Lubbock Christian for a second time on the young season. Oklahoma Baptist, (RV) Oklahoma Christian and Northeastern State are also each pitted against the Pack over the three-day event.

Season Expectations

• The ThunderWolves are preseason picked to finish seventh in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
• There are 13 softball programs in the RMAC.

Opening Weekend

• CSU-Pueblo went 0-5 in the season opening weekend at the Lubbock Sports Invitational.
• As a team the Pack put up 21 runs on 40 hits.
• Sabrina Felix (Sr., Corona, Calif.) and Isabel Griego (So., Loveland, Colo.) both recorded seven hits over the five games. Felix slugged four extra-base hits.
• Senior infielder Gabby Moreno (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led the team with five runs batted in and she was one of two other Pack players to record at least five hits on the weekend.

Last Season

• CSU-Pueblo went 14-30 overall last season and eighth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a 13-25 conference mark.
• The season ended with a 5-0 loss against MSU Denver.
• The Pack went 2-5 in neutral site games last season.

The New Kids

• Jordan Sanchez - OF (transfer from Trinidad State JC), Lissette Sotelo - INF (Mesquite HS), Emma Flynn - C (Silver Creek HS), Odalis Jackson - OF (Casteel HS), Natalie Montgomery - P (transfer from Seattle Univ.), Kaitlyn Glaze - INF (transfer from Trinidad State JC)     

Breaking Down Returning Starters

• Gabby Moreno (2B) - Moreno batted .316 last season and has recorded at least 50 hits in each of her first three seasons. In 2019, Moreno led the team in hits (50) and doubles (10). She currently sits tied for tenth all-time in hits at CSU-Pueblo. Her 45 career stolen bases puts her in the top five in program history.
• Sabrina Felix (OF) - Felix earned her first career RMAC Gold Glove in 2019 after posting an unblemished 1.000 fielding percentage. Felix tallied two asissts on 48 chances. She hit .336, collected 45 hits and scored 16 runs in 2019. 
• Marissa Piatt (3B) - Last season, Piatt led the team with a .364 average while recording a 1.055 OPS, 47 hits, slugged eight homeruns and gathered 28 runs batted in.
• Isabel Griego (SS) - Griego started in 43 games in her first year with the Pack. She collected 25 hits, one double, 26 total bases and earned 13 base on balls. She went 2-for-2 in stolen base tries.
• Taylor Strupp (Pitcher) - Strupp posted a 7-14 record during her freshman campaign and finished with seven complete games and one shutout. She tossed 109.0 innings and finished with 46 strikeouts. Her first win in the pitcher's circle came on March 16, 2019 at New Mexico Highlands. She had a season-high six strikeout performance on Apr. 13 against Regis.
• Samantha Riesen (Pitcher) - Riesen made 17 starts and appeared in 21 games in the circle. She posted a four wins and tossed six complete games in 91.2 innings pitched. Riesen finished the year with 27 strikeouts and twice put out five-strikeout performances, the first such outing came Mar. 16 at New Mexico Highlands and the next came on Apr. 6 versus Adams State.

Coach Talk

• CSU-Pueblo head coach Christie Koschke is beginning her 8th season at the helm of the ThunderWolves.
• Entering the season, Koschke has recorded the third most wins as head coach in program history with 154 wins. She sits three wins shy from passing Marty Blowers (1998-2002) for second all-time.

Looking at St. Edward's

• It is the second time in as many weeks the Pack and Hilltoppers will battle on the diamond.
• SEU defeated the Pack 12-4 (5 inn.) on Feb. 8 at the Lubbock Sports Invite.
• Kathryn Connelly leads the team with a .556 average and two homeruns this season.
• In the circle, SEU is guided by Reagan Carter's 3-0 record and 1.26 ERA to go with 23 strikeouts.

Looking at Oklahoma Baptist

• The matchup marks the first time the teams will face off.
• OBU holds a 3-6 record after competing in two nonconference tournaments to begin the season.
• The Bison went 3-1 last week at the LCU Invite. They defeated two RMAC schools.
• Katelyn Marsh holds a .556 average and has recorded fifteen hits.
• The Bison are guided in the pitcher's circle by Aspen Younce who enters the week with a 3-2 record and 6.14 ERA and 26 strikeouts.

Looking at Oklahoma Christian

• Oklahoma Christian leads the all-time series, 0-1 against the Pack.
• In the first meeting on March 21, 2003, the Eagles defeated CSU-Pueblo 5-3 on a neutral playing field.
• This season, OCU is 9-1 and enters the weekend on a eight-game win streak.
• Last week, OCU went unbeaten in the Edmond Regional Festival I. They defeated fellow RMAC foe Colorado School of Mines, 8-0.
• Offensively, Brie Dunckel leads the team with a .567 average and 17 hits. Six other players have 10 hits or more in ten games played.
• In the pitcher's circle, Kali Crandall (4-0, 0.89 ERA, 18 K's) and Lindsey Stoeckel (3-0, 2.05 ERA) lead the pitching staff.

Looking at Northeastern State

• This is the first meeting between CSU-Pueblo and Northeastern State.
• Northeastern State enters the week with a 2-2 record. They opened the season at the Harding Invitational.
• Megan Green leads the offense with a .444 average, including three extra-base hits.
• In the pitcher's circle, Brittany Beaudet has a 1-0 record and a 0.00 ERA with two strikeouts this season.

Looking at Lubbock Christian (RV)

• CSU-Pueblo is 0-2 all-time against Lubbock Christian.
• The Lady Chaparrals defeated the Pack 5-1 at home on Feb. 9 in the finale of the LCU Invite.
• LCU is 9-0 on the season which includes a 6-0 showing last week at their own invitational. The Lady Chaps defeated four RMAC teams on the weekend.
• Savannah Wysocki holds a .346 average along with five extra-base hits.
• Taylor Franco enters the week with a 5-0 record in the pitcher's circle. Franco holds a 0.47 ERA and has recorded 25 strikeouts.

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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.