LAS VEGAS, N.M. (March 9, 2024) - Colorado State University Pueblo softball opened a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series at New Mexico Highlands and won the first two games in the set, scoring a 9-7 win in the series opener and followed it up with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap at HU Softball Field.

On the day, Ashley Tosh (Jr., Fremont, Calif.) continued to be a threat at the plate and finished with four hits and five RBI.

Game one recap
In the opener, CSU Pueblo totaled 15 hits and took advantage of three errors by the Cowgirls. In the circle, McKenna James (So., Windsor, Colo.) tossed a complete game and improved to 4-9 on the year. She threw 7.0 innings and allowed seven runs and struck out two.

Tosh went 3-for-3 at the dish and included two doubles and a triple along with 4 RBI and three runs.

Emma Case (Fr., Loveland, Colo.) and Madelyn Huerta (So., Azusa, Calif.) both recorded two hits and two RBI and Huerta finished with two runs. Caitlyn Cole (So., Merced, Calif.) smacked two hits and scored three runs for the Pack.

The ThunderWolves got on the board first when Cole singled and scored on a double by Tosh in the next at bat.

CSU Pueblo offense continued in the third when Cole hit a single and stole second to get into scoring position for another RBI-double from Tosh. She advanced to third on the play on a throwing error from the center fielder.

Huerta was next to the plate and hit a RBI-ground out and brought in Tosh for a 3-0 lead.

New Mexico Highlands would get on the board and take a 4-3 lead after scoring four runs on five hits in their half of the third.

After a scoreless fourth inning by both teams, CSU Pueblo erupted for four runs on five hits, highlighted by a two-run triple from Tosh.

Huerta scored Tosh in the next at-bat and Darleen Falcon (So., Moreno Valley, Calif.) later was credited with an RBI with the fourth run crossing to put the Pack on top 7-4.

NMHU cut the lead to 7-5 with a run in the fifth.

In the sixth, Case hit a two-run double with two outs and extended the lead to four runs.

The Cowgirls again cut into their deficit and scored two runs in the sixth on a groundout and double in their time on offense.

In the seventh, Falcon hit a two-out double and was left stranded and sent the Pack back on defense.

In the last at-bat, NMHU got the tying run to the plate after a walk with one out but James was able to close out the game with a swinging strikeout to seal the win.

Game two recap
In game two, Raelynn Rogers (Jr., Surprise, Ariz.) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run. She started the offense in the first with a single and she would later score on a single up the middle from Tosh.

CSU Pueblo tacked on another run in the third with back-to-back doubles by Huerta and Case to put the Pack ahead 2-0.

Two more runs crossed in the fourth on a two-run single from Rogers.

The Cowgirls broke the shutout with a run in the home half of the fourth.

The Pack was quickly retired in the fifth before NMHU got back to the dugout and scored four runs on five hits to take a 5-4 lead heading to the sixth.

In the ThunderWolves' next at-bat, Rogers walked and was left stranded on base.

CSU Pueblo gave up another run in the sixth and went down 6-4 going to the seventh inning.

In the final frame, Isabella Hewitt (So., Firestone, Colo.) knocked a lead-off single through the left side and brought Huerta to the plate.

In the at-bat, Huerta hit a deep ball that landed in front of the wall and with the ball in the air, Hewitt was only able to get to second base.

Case was next to step in and she executed a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt to move the two runners both into scoring position with only one out.

Taylor Brower (So., Vacaville, Calif.) came to the plate next and flew out to left field for the second out.

Tori Cordova (Jr., Pueblo West, Colo.) was the next at the plate on the first pitch, hit a game-ending line drive to short stop and ended the game 6-4 in favor of the Cowgirls.

In the circle, Jacelynn Trujillo (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) suffered the loss and tossed 4.2 innings and allowed five runs and eight hits and three strikeouts. She drops to 2-3 on the year.

Marissa Robertson (So., Rocklin, Calif.) threw 1.1 innings of relieft and gave up one run on one hit and two strikeouts.

Up next
CSU Pueblo (7-18, 5-9 RMAC) closes out the series with two more games scheduled tomorrow and first pitch is set for 11 a.m. at HU Softball Field.
CSU Pueblo