PUEBLO, Colo. (April 8, 2023) - For the first time since the 2014 season, Colorado State University Pueblo softball took two-of-four games against Colorado Mesa after dropping the first game on Saturday, 7-4 before coming away with an 8-7 (8 inn.) victory in the series finale at Rawlings Sports Complex.

Sophomore Raelynn Rogers (Surprise, Ariz.) batted in the winning run for the ThunderWolves with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning of game two on the day, securing series split with the Mavericks.

Rogers, along with Tori Cordova (So., Pueblo West, Colo.) collected three hits in the doubleheader and Rogers accounted for three runs for the Pack.

In the first game, the Pack jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single by Jill Bishop (Sr., Brighton, Colo.).

CMU cut the lead in half during the second inning and added three more runs in the third, chasing Pack starter Jacelynn Trujillo (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) with two runners on base. 

In relief, Lucy Carney (So., Lakewood, Colo.) tossed 3.2 innings and gave up four runs on five hits. Carney was still in the circle when the Mavericks put runners on base, resulting in Marika Spector (Jr., Wimberley, Tex.) to come in and get out of the inning.

In her time in the circle, Spector gave up no runs and allowed just one hit to CMU.

The ThunderWolves offense added single runs on RBI hits by Marissa Robertson (Fr., Rocklin, Calif.) in the third and another RBI-single from Caitlyn Cole (Fr., Merced, Calif.) in the fourth inning.

CMU starter Hannah Sattler lasted four innings and gave up all four runs and Marisa Nehm pitched 3.0 innings and allowed the ThunderWolves no runs to seal the win.

In the series finale, Mesa scored three runs against Robertson who lasted 0.2 innings before Trujillo came on in relief in the first inning.

CSU Pueblo scored one run in their half of the first on a sac fly out by Cole before the Mavericks tacked on three more runs in the second and built a 6-1 lead.

The Pack rallied for two runs in the next at bat on a RBI-double by Darleen Falcon (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif.) and a throwing error after a strikeout allowed Delaney Barela (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) to get the Pack to within a 6-3 deficit.

After a scoreless top half of the third, CSU Pueblo erupted for four runs on two hits, highlighted by a two-run double by Ashley Tosh (So., Fremont, Calif.).

The Mavericks scored one run in the fourth before the teams battled to a scoreless affair over the three innings to set up the extra-inning walk-off.

In the top of the seventh, CMU had runners on base and a spectacular play in the outfield by Tosh resulted in a double-play after the runner on second was called out for leaving the base early.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, CSU Pueblo got back on offense and with two outs, Barela hit a double down the left field line and a walk to pinch hitter Sienna Doporto (Fr., Lovington, N.M.) and a single to shallow left center by Cordova, brought Rogers up to the plate.

Rogers hit the first pitch she saw to left field and just beyond the reach of a diving short stop to score the winning run for the Pack.

Trujillo picked up the win in the circle and improves to 5-9 on the year.

CSU Pueblo (14-25, 9-21 RMAC) will go on the road next week and play a four-game series at University of Colorado Colorado Springs starting Friday at Noon at Mountain Lion Softball Field.