PUEBLO, Colo. (March 15, 2022) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team split a nonconference doubleheader against Northern State on Tuesday, falling 11-4 in game one and bouncing back for a 5-2 victory in game two at Rawlings Sports Complex.

On the day, Isabel Griego (Sr., Loveland, Colo.) and Katelynn Ralston (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) both collected three hits and Griego scored three runs and Ralston tallied three RBI in the two games.

In game one, CSU Pueblo scored the first run in the first inning after aggressive base running and with runners on the corners and one out, Ralston reached on an error by Northern State, scoring Raelynn Rogers (Fr., Surprise, Ariz.) from third base after leading off the inning with a walk.

Northern State tied the game in the second inning before the ThunderWolves regained the lead at 3-1 with two runs in the second on a walk with the bases loaded and an RBI-single from Ralston.

The Wolves of Northern State took a 5-3 lead after the top half of the third on four hits and a defensive error.

The score went unchanged until the fifth inning when one run crossed for NSU and when the Pack went back on offense, small ball again in this game produced the fourth run of the game for CSU Pueblo.

Down by three runs entering the sixth, NSU added five runs over the last two innings and built an 11-4 lead.

Over the last two innings the Pack managed one hit and dropped the first game by seven runs.

In game two, Northern State jumped ahead 1-0 after their first at bat before CSU Pueblo's offense evened the score at 1-1 in their half of the first on RBI-triple from Ralston to score Rogers from first base.

Following a scoreless second inning, the Wolves took a one run lead and the Pack responded in their half inning with two more runs and a one-run lead on another error on the defense and an RBI single up the middle from Hannah Hackney (Sr., Erie, Colo.) for a 3-2 advantage.

The score went unchanged in the fourth and the Pack added to their lead on an RBI-single up the middle by Isabel Griego (Sr., Loveland, Colo.) to go ahead by two.

Another single run crossed in the Pack's fifth inning on a single to right field by Taylor Puga (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) to score Delaney Barela (So., Pueblo, Colo.) who led off the inning with a walk.

Starting in the circle for the Pack, Taylor Strupp (Sr., San Tan Valley, Ariz.) gave up two runs on four hits and allowed four walks and one strikeout in 5.0 innings of work.

Called on in relief, Jacelynn Trujillo (So., Pueblo, Colo.) pitched the final two innings and allowed no runs on two hits. She finished with one strikeout in two walks to earn her first save of the season.

In the last inning, Trujillo walked one with two outs and surrendered one hit, bringing the tying run to the plate.

Against the tying run, Trujillo induced a pop up on the infield and a nice defensive play ended the game 5-2 in favor of the Pack.

Strupp picked up the win and improves to 4-2 on the year and Trujillo earned her first save of her career for the Pack.

CSU Pueblo (10-7, 6-6 RMAC) will return to RMAC play on the road this week and will play a four-game series at Fort Lewis College in Durango. The series is scheduled to start Saturday at noon.