PUEBLO, Colo. (March 28, 2024) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team returned to the friendly confines of Rawlings Softball Complex and welcomed Fort Lewis College for a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series this week and earned a split of the opening doubleheader on Thursday.

In game one, the pitching duo of McKenna James (So., Windsor, Colo.) and Jacelynn Trujillo (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) combined and allowed six hits in a 7-2 victory. In the second game, CSU Pueblo recorded three hits and left four runners on base in a 2-0 defeat.

On the day, Caitlyn Cole (So., Merced, Calif.) recorded two doubles and Madelyn Huerta (So., Azusa, Calif.) and Darleen Falcon (So., Moreno Valley, Calif.) both finished with two hits.

Game one recap
In the opener, CSU Pueblo scored runs in each of the first four innings and built a 7-1 lead entering the fifth inning. The Pack got the scoring started in the first inning on a defensive error, scored Ashley Tosh (Jr., Fremont, Calif.) from first base.

In the second, the ThunderWolves totaled three RBI hits and the inning was highlighted by a two-RBI single from Huerta.

The Pack's sixth run of the game came in the next inning when Delaney Barela (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) laid down a sac bunt and scored the runner from third base.

The final run for the Pack came in the fourth when Cole led off the inning with a double down the line and came around to score following a pair of ground outs.

Fort Lewis added a single run in the fifth on a solo home run hit by Kayla Stone with two outs.

Also in the fifth inning, James was removed from the game after recording the first out in place of Trujillo. James finished her outing with 4.1 innings pitched, allowed one run on five hits and finished with two strikeouts.

Over the next 2.2 innings, Trujillo allowed just one run and one hit and finished with three strikeouts.

Game two recap
A strong pitching performance from both starting pitchers was the story of the game.

FLC's Hailie Mann stymied the ThunderWolves offense and allowed three singles while tossing four strikeouts.

In the circle for the Pack, Marissa Robertson (So., Rocklin, Calif.) gave up two runs and one earned and recorded four strikeouts of her own to help to keep the Pack in striking distance throughout.

CSU Pueblo tallied hits in the third, fourth and seventh innings and their best scoring chance came in the third when Isabella Hewitt (So., Firestone, Colo.) led off the inning with a single and she would later be called out while trying to score on a fielder's choice play.

Robertson was tagged with the loss and falls to 3-8 this season. 

On deck
CSU Pueblo (12-25, 10-16 RMAC) will finish the series with two more games scheduled Friday starting at 11 a.m. at Rawlings Softball Complex.