PUEBLO, Colo. (February 21, 2020) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team will hit the road for a third straight week and play at No. 13 Dixie State to begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

The Pack return to the diamond after competing at the Edmond Regional Festival last week.

Season Expectations

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

Last Time on the Diamond

• CSU-Pueblo went 0-5, competing at the Edmond Regional Festival.
• As a team the Pack averaged 3.0 runs per game and 7.5 hits per contest.
• Sabrina Felix (Sr., Corona, Calif.) continued to rake, picking up eight 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 Dixie State

• The ThunderWolves hold a 1-11 record all-time against Dixie State.
• The last win for the ThunderWolves came Feb. 7, 2002 on a neutral playing field.
• This marks the third time the Pack will face a ranked DSU team.
• Under Head Coach Christie Koschke, the Pack is 0-9.
• Dixie State enters the weekend with a 12-2 record and is atop the RMAC standings heading into conference play.
• Hannah Hughbanks leads the team with a .426 average, including 20 hits and two homeruns this season.
• In the circle, DSU is guided by Carissa Burgess who holds a 6-0 record and 1.05 ERA to go with 31 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.