PUEBLO, Colo. (February 16, 2025) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play and welcomed Chadron State College and split the first two games Sunday at Rawlings Softball Complex to start a four game series.

The ThunderWolves won the first game 8-0 (5 inn.) behind a solid pitching performance from Mia Sanchez (Fr., Los Angeles, Calif.) who made her home debut.

In the nightcap, Chadron State scored a run late to come away with a 3-2 victory.

On the day, Raelynn Rogers (Sr., Surprise, Ariz.) collected four hits and three runs. Caitlyn Cole (Jr., Merced, Calif.) registered three hits and Emma Case (So., Loveland, Colo.) along with Taylor Brower (Jr., Vacaville, Calif.) got two hits.

Game One Recap
For Sanchez in her Pueblo debut, she tossed a five-hit shutout and finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

The ThunderWolves went up early in the first inning and manufactured two runs on great base running from the Pack.

In the second, CSU Pueblo added four more runs on three hits. Brower produced a RBI-single and two runs scored later on a sac fly out from Delaney Barela (5th., Pueblo, Colo.) to extend the lead to 6-0.

Sanchez continued to be lights out over the next few innings and carried the six run lead to the bottom of the fifth.

In the inning, Brower and Cali Cole (Fr., Merced, Calif.) each hit RBI-singles including the game-winner from Cole to end the game at the 8-run rule contest.

Game Two Recap
The Pack jumped out in front in their first at bat and took advantage of an error on the defense and in the second, another ThunderWolves run scored on a sac bunt hit by Tori Cordova (Sr., Pueblo West, Colo.)

CSU Pueblo's Lucy Carney (Sr., Lakewood, Colo.) started in the circle in the nightcap and lasted 2.0 innings before McKenna James (Jr., Windsor, Colo.) came on in relief in the third.

In the game, the ThunderWolves managed three hits, two from Rogers and one from Caitlyn Cole.

Chadron tied the game in their half of the third before the ThunderWolves pitching change.

James came on with the bases loaded and was able to strike out the side.

The Eagles took the lead with two outs in the sixth.

CSC's Kenzi Garner threw a complete game and finished the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Carney falls to 0-2 on the year.

On Deck
CSU Pueblo (2-7, 1-1 RMAC) will finish the series with two more games on Monday starting at 11 a.m. at Rawlings Softball Complex.