COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 16, 2023) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team won both games of a doubleheader on Sunday at University of Colorado Colorado Springs, led by Freshman Caitlyn Cole (Merced, Calif.) who crushed three more home runs in the Pack's 11-7 and 3-2 (8 inn.) victory at Mountain Lion Field.

Cole now has eleven home runs on the season. She ended the weekend 6-for-15 at the plate and all of her hits were extra-base hits. Cole recorded eight runs, 10 RBI and five walks. She was a perfect 2-for-2 on stolen bases.

CSU Pueblo finished a strong weekend offensively and scored 22 runs on 35 hits.

In the first game Sunday, CSU Pueblo's offense scored three runs in the first inning on an RBI-single from Madelyn Huerta (Fr., Azusa, Calif.). Later in the inning, Ashley Tosh (So., Fremont, Calif.) hit a RBI-single to left and brought in two runs off an error on the Mountain Lions.

Starting the top of the third, Cole stepped in and hit her second lead-off homer of the weekend with a shot over the left field fence to put the Pack on top 4-0.

With one out in the inning, Marissa Robertson (Fr., Rocklin, Calif.) came up and manufactured to runs on a sac bunt for the ThunderWolves.

UCCS got on the board in their half of the third on a solo home run hit with two outs in the inning.

CSU Pueblo tacked on two more runs in the fifth with a two-run blast hit by Cole to put the Pack ahead 8-1.

In their next at-bat, UCCS scored two runs with a solo home run and an single to the pitcher, putting the score at an 8-3 CSU Pueblo advantage.

During the top of the sixth, Jill Bishop (Sr., Brighton, Colo.) stepped in and hit a two-run home run with two outs to get the ThunderWolves ahead 10-3.

The Pack added another run in the seventh on a RBI-double hit by Taylor Brower (Fr., Vacaville, Calif.).

In the last at-bat for the Mountain Lions, the home team scored four runs on two hits but a double-play ground out closed the game, 11-7 in favor of the ThunderWolves.

Robertson picked up the win and is now 3-6 on the year.

In the series finale, UCCS scored single runs in the second and third innings to build a 2-0 lead against Pack starting pitcher Jacelynn Trujillo (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.).

Trujillo and the Pack defense held the Mountain Lions to two hits over the next two innings.

In the top of the fifth, Cole stepped in with two outs and a runner at third and hit a moon shot to left field, tying the game at two apiece.

Trujillo took the tied ball game into the bottom of the seventh and despite giving up a walk and a double, she stranded the two runners with a strike out to end the inning and send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth for CSU Pueblo, the first two runners reached safely and chased UCCS starting pitcher Autumn Kunze from the game. 

The next batter, Brower reached on an error when her sac bunt attempt caused a throwing error on the first baseman, allowing the runner from second to score and put the ThunderWolves on top 3-2.

In the last chance to tie, Trujillo got the first two outs before UCCS hit a double, putting the tying run in scoring position.

In the next at-bat, Trujillo induced a ground ball to short and Huerta went the short route and got the lead runner out at third, closing the game 3-2 in favor of the ThunderWolves.

Trujillo improves to 6-10 on the year.

CSU Pueblo (16-27, 11-23 RMAC) returns home next week and takes on Black Hills State in the regular season home finale starting Saturday at Noon at Rawlings Sports Complex.