PUEBLO, Colo. (March 15, 2023) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team lost a pair of nonconference games at home against Fort Hays State, falling 6-3 in the first game and dropped a 5-2 game in the nightcap.

Caitlyn Cole (Fr., Merced, Calif.) led the ThunderWolves with three hits including smacking her second homerun of the season during the third inning of game two.

Marissa Robertson (Fr., Rocklin, Calif.) and Darleen Falcon (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif.) both finished the day with two hits. 

In the first game, Pack starting pitcher Lucy Carney (So., Lakewood, Colo.) gave up one run in the first inning and settled over the next three innings. The Pack got on the board in their half of the second inning when Robertson hit a leadoff triple and she scored on a sac fly out by Ashley Tosh (So., Fremont, Calif.), tying the game at 1-1.

Carney retired the side in order in the fourth, getting the Pack back on offense. 

Madelyn Huerta (Fr., Azusa, Calif.) was hit by pitch to lead off the bottom of the fourth and in the next at bat, Robertson singled on the infield that went off the pitcher and rolled towards third base.

The defender picked up the ball and caught Robertson in a rundown after she went past the base at first and during the play, smart base running by Huerta allowed her to come around to score the second run for the Pack.

In the top of the fifth, the Pack defense committed an error and was followed by a base on balls to put two runners on. In the next play, a blooper on the infield fell between two Pack players and loaded the bases for the Tigers.

The next batter for FHSU, Sarah Tiffany hit a grand slam homerun over the left field wall to give the visitors a 5-2 lead.

Jacelynn Trujillo (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) came on to pitch starting the sixth inning and held the Tigers scoreless in the inning.

The Pack got one run back during their at bat in the sixth on a single from Tosh and an error on the right fielder to get within a 5-3 deficit.

FHSU tacked on one more run in the seventh and in their last chance at bat, the ThunderWolves left a runner stranded on second base before the game ended on a groundout on the infield.

In game two, CSU Pueblo scored one run in their first time on offense by playing small ball, scoring the run on a sac bunt from Robertson, scoring lead-off hitter Cole.

After a scoreless second frame, FHSU scored three runs and took a 3-1 lead.

In their half, the Pack got a run on the solo shot hit by Cole, to get within a one run deficit.

The Tigers hit a pair of RBI-singles in the fourth inning and built a 5-2 lead that would remain for the rest of the game.

Starting in the circle for the Pack, Robertson lasted 4.0 innings and allowed five runs and three earned and finished with two strikeouts before Trujillo came on in another relief appearance and gave up no hits and four strikeouts in three innings of work.

CSU Pueblo (8-17, 3-13 RMAC) returns back to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play and welcomes New Mexico Highlands for a four-game series starting Saturday at Noon at Rawlings Sports Complex.