PUEBLO, Colo. (February 28, 2020) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team will returns to the friendly confines of Rawlings Softball Complex this week and will face Colorado Mesa University in a four-game home set.
The ThunderWolves are home after starting the first three weeks of the season on the road. The Pack played in two nonconference tournaments and opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, last week at No. 13 Dixie State.
Last Time on the Diamond
- CSU-Pueblo opened RMAC play at Dixie State.
- The ThunderWolves went 1-3. The Pack won the third game of the series, 5-4 in extra innings.
RMAC Player of the Week
- For her efforts against Dixie State, Gabby Moreno (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) was named RMAC Player of the Week after going 9-for-13 (.692 average) at the plate including three extra-base hits, seven RBIs and posting a 1.077 slugging percentage.
Looking at Colorado Mesa
- The ThunderWolves hold a 39-67 record all-time against Colorado Mesa.
- The last win for the ThunderWolves came Apr. 30, 2016 in the second round of the RMAC Tournament.
- Dixie State enters the weekend with a 10-4 record and opened RMAC play with a 4-0 record.
- Lauren Wedman leads the team with a .457 average. She leads the Mavericks with 21 hits including three extra-base hits.
- In the circle, CMU is guided by Shea Mauser who holds a 6-1 record and 1.64 ERA to go with 36 strikeouts.
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 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
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.Â
- 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 155 wins. She sits two wins shy from passing Marty Blowers (1998-2002) for second all-time.
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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.
