PUEBLO, Colo. (April 6, 2021) - Colorado State University Pueblo softball split the first two of a four-game set against Fort Lewis College on Tuesday, winning the series opener 8-2 and falling 12-7 in game two at Rawlings Sports Complex.

On the day, Marissa Piatt (Sr., San Luis Obispo, Calif.) went 6-for-8 at the plate and scored a double, homerun and tallied five RBI.

Leadoff hitter Gabby Moreno (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) notched four hits and hit two doubles.

Five other Pack players recorded multiple hits in the two games.

In the opener, a four-run sixth inning for CSU Pueblo propelled them in the victory.

The ThunderWolves scored single runs in the second and third innings and took a 2-1 lead on RBI singles from Piatt and Katelynn Ralston (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Pack starting pitcher Oakleigh Kearby (Fr., Meridian Idaho) pitched effective during the middle of the game and helped to maintain the one run lead.

Fort Lewis would even the score in their half of the fifth before CSU Pueblo responded with two runs in their next at bat thanks to a two-run blast hit by Samantha Riesen (Sr., Independence, Calif.) to give the Pack an 4-2 lead.

The ThunderWolves quickly was back on offense in the sixth, setting up the large scoring inning. The big blow of the frame came when Ralston stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a double to straight away centerfield, clearing the bases.

The Pack added one more run on a defensive error and built a six-run cushion going to the seventh.

Kearby allowed one walk and retired the side to earn her fourth win of the season. Kearby went seven innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. She struckout two and allowed one free pass.

In game two, CSU Pueblo scored two quick runs in the first inning on the homerun by Piatt.

FLC scored and took the lead with three runs in the second.

Piatt tallied another RBI in her next at bat to even the score at 3-3.

After a scoreless third inning, the Skyhawks added five more runs over the next two innings. Pack starting pitcher Sophia Lishner (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.) was pulled with one out in the third inning. She ended with six runs allowed on eight hits to go with two strikeouts and two walks.

In the home half of the fifth and trailing 8-3, the ThunderWolves stormed back with three runs in the frame. Melissa Torrez (Jr., Buena Park, Calif.) would come around and score on a error on the defense. 

Karlee Salas (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) was called on to pinch hit with two outs and hit a two-run single, bringing the Pack within one at 8-6.

In the sixth, CSU Pueblo was back on offense and Piatt hit a RBI-double to get within one run.

In the seventh, Fort Lewis hit a three-run homerun for some added cushion to its lead.

Their final at bat, the ThunderWolves were retired in order, succumbing to the 12-7 defeat.

CSU Pueblo (11-11, 8-10 RMAC) will finish the series against Fort Lewis with another doubleheader Wednesday starting at 11 a.m. at Rawlings Sports Complex.