ALAMOSA, Colo. (April 13, 2024) - With three weeks left in the regular season, the Colorado State University Pueblo softball team opened a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series at Adams State, winning the first two games, 9-6 and 6-3 on Saturday at ASU Softball Field.

Effective pitching in the circle from hurlers McKenna James (So., Windsor, Colo.) and Marissa Robertson (So., Rocklin, Calif.) along with a four-hit and 5 RBI day from Caitlyn Cole (So., Merced, Calif.) propelled the ThunderWolves in the two wins.

Madelyn Huerta (So., Azusa, Calif.) and Isabella Hewitt (So., Firestone, Colo.) each collected three RBI for the Pack.

Game one recap
In the series opener, CSU Pueblo used a three-run fourth inning and a four-run seventh inning to defeat the Grizzlies. The Pack got on the board first in the second inning on a throwing error on the defense, for an early 1-0 lead.

The second run would score in the next inning for the ThunderWolves on aggressive base running with a double-steal called and caught the defense sleeping to go ahead 2-0.

In the fourth, the Pack loaded the bases with one out and Cole stepped in and hit a triple into the gap in left center field and balloon the Pack's lead to 5-0.

Adams State was able to avoid the shutout with two runs on five hits in the fifth inning and in their next at-bat in the sixth, the Grizzlies added two more runs to get within a 5-4 deficit entering the seventh inning.

In the top half of the last inning, CSU Pueblo scored three more runs on a pair of two-run hits from Huerta and Hewitt to give the Pack a 9-4 lead heading the last at bat for ASU.

For the Grizzlies in the seventh, three hits to start the inning plated a run before the Pack recorded the first out. 

James was able to shut the door over the next three hitters and in the inning recorded her fourth strikeout of the game and a line out to second ended the game, 9-6 in favor of the Pack.

With the win, James improves to 7-14 on the year.

Game two recap
In the second contest, the Pack took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a ground-rule double hit by Emma Case (Fr., Loveland, Colo.), followed by a sac-bunt RBI from Huerta.

Holding the two-run lead, Robertson took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning before the Grizzlies recorded their first hit on a triple to lead-off the inning and the runner would come around to score for ASU.

The Pack added three more runs in the sixth on a RBI-hit on the infield from Raelynn Rogers (Jr., Surprise, Ariz.), followed by a two-run single from Cole, giving the ThunderWolves a 5-1 lead.

In the bottom half, ASU score two runs on three hits to cut the lead in half at 5-3 heading to the seventh.

For the ThunderWolves in the seventh, small ball and more aggressive running on the base paths, produced another run heading to the last chance at bat for the Grizzlies.

In the bottom of the seventh, ASU lead off with a single but left the runner stranded as Robertson finished the outing with a strikeout looking, her seventh of the game. She improves to 7-8 on the season.

On deck
CSU Pueblo (18-27, 16-18 RMAC) concludes the series with two more games on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. at ASU Softball Field.