PUEBLO, Colo. (February 23, 2025) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team lost a pair of one-run Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games on Sunday against Black Hills State at Rawlings Softball Complex.
A late-game rally for the ThunderWolves fell short in a 3-2 loss in the series opener and in game two, BHSU scored two runs in the seventh and came away with a 2-1 win.
Originally scheduled to be played in Spearfish, SD, the four-game series shifted south to Pueblo after inclement weather and unplayable field conditions caused the change of venue. CSU Pueblo will be designated visitors for the series.
Game One recap
A pitcher's dual between the Pack's
Mia Sanchez (Fr., Los Angeles, Calif.) and BHSU's Laci Peskey ensued in the first game. The first hit of the game did not come until the top of the fifth when
Taylor Brower (Jr., Vacaville, Calif.) hit a two-out single but was erased in the next at bat.
The Yellow Jackets would score first and get two runs across in the home half of the fifth. BHSU scored its runs on a wild pitch and the second was a base on balls with the bases loaded.
CSU Pueblo cut the lead in half in the T6 on a solo shot hit by
Cali Cole (Fr., Merced, Calif.), her first home run of her career.
In the bottom of the sixth, Black Hills State hit a solo home run and gave Pesky a 2-run cushion going to the seventh.
In the last at bat for the ThunderWolves,
Emma Case (So., Loveland, Colo.) crushed a solo home run to right and brought the deficit to one run.
After a ground out for the second out of the inning,
Ashley Tosh (Sr., Fremont, Calif.) pinch-hit and earned a walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
A called strike three ended the game and threat.
With the loss, Sanchez falls to 3-2 on the year.
Game Two recap
In the nightcap, CSU Pueblo recorded two hits and scored the only run in the T5 when
Cali Cole earned a walk with the bases loaded.
McKenna James (Jr., Windsor, Colo.) pitched a gem in the circle and gave up two runs and finished with six strikeouts.
BHSU trailed the entire game until the bottom of the seventh and would get the lead-off hitter on base and she later came around to score on a double hit by Taylor Dowden.
With two outs and runners on the corners, a dribbler hit on the left side of the infield was fielded and the attempt home was late as the winning run crossed for the Yellow Jackets.
James takes the loss in the circle and falls to 1-5 on the year.
On Deck
The teams will finish the series with two more games on Monday starting at 11 a.m. at Rawlings Softball Complex.
