LAS VEGAS, NM (April 19, 2021) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team completed a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) series sweep at New Mexico Highlands Monday. The ThunderWolves cruised to a 12-3 win in game one and held on for a 9-7 win in the series finale at NMHU Softball Field.

On the day, Alyssa Caulford (Fr., Fullerton, Calif.) went 6-for-9 (.667 average) at the plate, hitting two doubles and scoring four runs. Caulford added three RBI and eight total bases.

Sabrina Felix (Sr., Corona, Calif.) picked up five hits and a pair of doubles in the two games.

For the series, Caulford led the Pack offensively with ten hits and six runs. As a team the ThunderWolves scored 44 runs, totaled 54 hits, including 12 doubles and five homeruns. The offense poured in 39 RBI and recorded a .415 batting average.

The designated player when not in the pitcher's circle, Samantha Riesen (Sr., Independence, Calif.) erupted for six hits in the series including three doubles, two homeruns and 11 RBI. Riesen scored five runs and totaled 15 bases. She recorded a 1.250 slugging percentage and was hit by pitch three times.

In the circle, Riesen went 2-0 in two appearances and tossed 9.1 innings, allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three. She limited NMHU to a .188 batting average.

Also in the circle, Pack freshman Oakleigh Kearby (Meridian, Idaho) went 2-0 in the series tossing two complete games, including setting a new career high in strikeouts with ten in game one Monday.

For the series, Kearby allowed four runs and finished with 14 strikeouts.

In game one Monday, a five-run first inning and a six-run seventh inning propelled the ThunderWolves to victory. Riesen went 4-for-5 at the plate, hitting four XBH including three doubles and a homerun and six RBI.

Caulford, Marissa Piatt (Sr., San Luis Obispo, Calif.) and Katelynn Ralston (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) each picked up three hits. Caulford finished the game with three RBI.

In the circle, Kearby had little problem in retiring the young NMHU lineup and allowed four doubles in the first three innings to account for the three runs by the Cowgirls. She improves her record to 7-3 on the season.

In the series finale, Ralston started in the circle and allowed three runs on three hits in 0.1 innings pitched. Riesen came on and settled the offense and tossed 5.1 innings and gave up three runs on six hits and one strikeout.

Offensively, Caulford and Felix led the way with three hits in the game. Piatt finished with two hits and an RBI and run scored.

Riesen held NMHU at bay during the middle innings and a three-run sixth inning resulted in a pitching change that brought in Sophia Lishner (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.).

Lishner earned the four out save after she retired the sixth inning and allowed one run and brought the tying run to the plate before inducing a flyball out to end the game at 9-7 in favor of the Pack.

Riesen earned the win in the finale and improved to 4-4 on the year.

Coach Comments
"We had a great weekend. The team competed and never gave up," said Pack Head Coach Christie Koschke. "We want to continue this momentum moving into our next series for senior weekend."

CSU Pueblo (17-13, 14-12 RMAC) will return home and host Adams State University in a four game RMAC series starting Saturday at 12 p.m. at Rawlings Sports Complex.