PUEBLO, Colo. (April 8, 2024) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team finished a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series against Colorado School of Mines, earning a split of the final two games on Monday at Rawlings Softball Complex.

The Pack fell 6-3 in the first game and in the finale, CSU Pueblo was victorious in a 9-8 contest.

On the day, CSU Pueblo totaled 17 hits and were led by Caitlyn Cole (So., Merced, Calif.), Madelyn Huerta (So., Azusa, Calif.) and Emma Case (Fr., Loveland, Colo.) who each recorded three hits. Huerta and Case both hit home runs in game one.

In the pitcher's circle, Marissa Robertson (So., Rocklin, Calif.) concluded a 2-0 weekend after she threw 5.2 innings in game two. Robertson struck out six and gave up seven runs on eight hits and six walks. Also for the Pack, Lucy Carney (Jr., Lakewood, Colo.) came on in relief during game two and tossed 1.0 inning and gave up one run and three walks.

McKenna James (So., Windsor, Colo.) started the first game in the circle and pitched relief in game two and finished with 7.1 innings pitched. She gave up six runs and three earned and scattered ten hits to go with four walks.

Game one recap
Starting the day, CSU Pueblo put runners on base early and in the bottom of the first inning, a walk and hit by pitch allowed for both Pack to get two hitters into scoring position before Mines was able to escape without either run scoring.

Mines got the scoring started in the second inning after a double to start the inning along with a fielder's choice on the next play, put two on with no outs. The Orediggers were able to plate both runners on a ground out and a double later in the inning.

Following a quiet second and third inning, CSU Pueblo got on the board after Darleen Falcon (So., Moreno Valley, Calif.) singled with one out and Huerta next stepped up and blasted a two-run shot over the wall, knotting the game at two apiece.

The Orediggers responded in their next at-bat and put up three runs on two hits. The big play came on a single to right field that reached the wall, allowing all three runs to score to give Mines a 5-2 lead.

The ThunderWolves got one run closer in the bottom of the sixth on a lead-off home run hit by Case to put the score at 5-3.

Mines added one more run in the seventh and in their last chance on offense, the Pack loaded the bases with two outs and brought the winning run to the plate before a strike out ended the game.

Game two recap
In the series finale, the Pack used two big scoring innings along with effective pitching and play on defense to come away with a one-run victory.

The Pack got on the board in the first inning on a RBI-single from Case to score Cole who led off the game with a double to center.

Mines tied it up in the second and took a 3-1 lead over the next two innings on two hits including a solo home run.

In the next half inning, CSU Pueblo four runs on four hits and took advantage of two defensive miscues to jump ahead 5-3. The inning was highlighted by RBI hits from Cole, Huerta and Ashley Tosh (Jr., Fremont, Calif.). The fourth run came as a result of the second error against the Orediggers.

The Orediggers would tie the game with single runs in the fourth and fifth inning before the ThunderWolves went back on offense in the fifth. CSU Pueblo reclaimed the lead with three runs and three hits along with swift base running to lead 8-5 going to the sixth.

For Mines in the sixth, two runs crossed on three hits before the Pack was able to escape a bases loaded jam, holding onto a 8-7 lead.

The ThunderWolves plated an insurance run in the sixth inning after Raelynn Rogers (Jr., Surprise, Ariz.) drew a walk to start the inning and she would score on a RBI double hit by Case. for a 9-7 advantage.

In the final inning, Mines put the Pack fans on the edge of their seat as the visitors scored a run with a single up the middle and loaded the bases all with two outs in the inning before James was called on to get the final out, a popup on the infield to escape with a 9-8 victory.

On deck
With the series split, and three series' left in the regular season, CSU Pueblo (16-27, 14-18 RMAC) currently sits in sixth place in the RMAC Standings and hold a two-game lead for the final spot in the upcoming RMAC Tournament. Up next, the Pack will travel to Alamosa and begin a four-game set against Adams State starting Saturday at Noon at ASU Softball Field.