PUEBLO, Colo. (February 6, 2020) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team will begin the 2020 season on a ten-game nonconference road trip over the first two weekends of the season. The ThunderWolves travel to Lubbock, Texas this week and will take on five regional opponents.

The Pack wrap nonconference play Feb. 14-16 with five more games against regional opponents at the Edmond Regional Festival, hosted by Oklahoma Christian and and Central Oklahoma.

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 Day

• CSU-Pueblo is 8-17 all-time in season openers.
• Last season, the ThunderWolves opened the season Feb. 7, with a 9-0 loss against Northwest Nazarene University at the Courtyard Classic in St. George, Utah.

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 is CSU-Pueblo's third-winningest softball 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 Southern Nazarene

• This marks the first meeting between CSU-Pueblo and Southern Nazarene.
• The Crimson Storm of the Great American Conference, went 25-30 overall last season, finishing sixth in the GAC with a 20-23 conference mark. They had their season end in the GAC Tournament to Harding Universitiy.
• Last season, SNU opened the season at the same LCU Invite, where they went 2-2 (both losses came in run-ruled contests).
• SNU is slated to finish fifth in the 12-team GAC Preseason Poll.
• SNU will be led this year by Caitlyn Curlee and Mahina Sauer, the duo combined for 21 homeruns last season.

Looking at Eastern New Mexico

• The Greyhounds went 12-30 last season, finishing ninth in the Lone Star Conference with a 8-22 conference record.
• The ThunderWolves are 6-4 all-time against ENMU. In the last meeting on Feb. 14, 2014, the Greyhounds defeated the Pack 3-2.
• This season, ENMU is preseason picked 15th in the LSC Preseason Poll.
• Eastern New Mexico returns seven players from last year's roster and is led by Sophomore, Iliana Mendoza who finished with 38 hits and 18 runs last season.

Looking at St. Edward's

• This marks the first meeting between CSU-Pueblo and St. Edward's.
• The Hilltoppers went 15-27 overall last season, finishing sixth in the Heartland Conference with a 11-19 conference mark.
• SEU will begin their first year as a member of the Lone Star Conference.
• Last season, SEU opened the season at the Arkansas Tech Invite, where they went 1-3.
• SEU is slated to finish 14th in the 17-team LSC Preseason Poll.
• St. Edward's will be led this year by nine seniors on the roster. In 2019, Kathryn Connelly led the Hilltoppers with 34 hits.

Looking at Fort Hays State

• Fort Hays went 24-25 a season ago, finishing ninth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with a 13-13 conference record.
• FHSU is a former member of the RMAC and frequent opponent of the CSU-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are 20-19 all-time against the Tigers. In the last meeting on Feb. 9, 2008, the Tigers bested the Pack by a 4-2 score.
• The teams are 1-1 all-time when playing each other at a neutral site.
• This season, FHSU is preseason picked 10th in the MIAA Preseason Poll.
• The Tigers will be led offensively by returners Grace Philop (.331 average), and Terran Caldwell (54 hits). In the circle, senior Hailey Chapman picked up 12 wins for the Tigers.

Looking at Lubbock Christian

• Lubbock Christian went 32-19 overall last season, finishing fourth in the Heartland Conference with a 16-14 conference record.
• This season, Lubbock was picked to finish ninth in the Lone Star Conference.
• LCU defeated the Pack, 16-8 on Feb. 12, 2016 on neutral turf, in their only meeting.
• The Chaparrals have opened the season 3-0 after the opening weekend.
• Clarissa Martinez opened the season with six hits in their first weekend of action.

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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.