PUEBLO, Colo. (March 7, 2025) - Colorado State University Pueblo softball split its first two games of a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series against Adams State on Friday, winning the series opener in a shutout 8-0 (5 inn.) run-rule win before falling 7-5 in game two at Rawlings Softball Complex.

For the day, CSU Pueblo scored its 15 runs on 19 total hits throughout the two games. Darleen Falcon (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif.) led the Pack offensively and went 4-for-7 at the plate with two RBI, two runs and a walk earned. As a team the Pack tallied six extra-base hits.

In the circle, McKenna James (Jr., Windsor, Colo.) picked up the win in the series opener and pitched a complete game and gave up no runs and allowed the Grizzlies only three hits in the game. She finished with five strikeouts and two walks and evens her record to 5-5 on the year.

Game One recap
The ThunderWolves got on the board first in their first at bat when Taylor Brower (Jr., Vacaville, Calif.) led off with a home run hit over the wall in right center and gave the Pack an early 1-0 lead.

Another run would score on a ground out hit by Falcon, allowed Cali Cole (Fr., Merced, Calif.) to score from third base to give the ThunderWolves another run.

The Pack erupted for three more runs on four hits in the B4, highlighted by RBI hits from Falcon and Tori Cordova (Sr., Pueblo West, Colo.). Zoie Armstrong (Sr., Lincoln, Neb.) registered an RBI on a ground out on the infield.

After a scoreless top of the fifth inning, CSU Pueblo added three more runs. Madelyn Huerta (Jr., Azusa, Calif.) smacked a two-run triple to right center field with no outs and after a fly out, Falcon stepped up and hit a ground ball to the pitcher and Huerta would race in for th winning run in the run-rule victory.

Game Two recap
In the nightcap, after two scoreless innings, CSU Pueblo got on the board in their half of the third thanks to aggressive and smart base running from the ThunderWolves. Delaney Barela (5th., Pueblo, Colo.) scored the first run on a fielder's choice and Huerta scored the second run on a double-steal attempt allowed her to cross before the third out of the inning was recorded.

Mia Sanchez (Fr., Los Angeles, Calif.) started in the circle and was tossing an effective game and scattered four hits of shutout ball over the first four innings before being replaced by Marissa Robertson (Jr., Rocklin, Calif.).

In the T5, Robertson allowed the first four batters to reach and the first run to score for Adams State before Lucy Carney (Sr., Lakewood, Colo.) came on in relief of Robertson.

In her outing, Carney pitched 0.2 innings and gave up three runs and one earned and issued three walks before James was called upon to finish the inning.

James pitched 2.1 innings of work and allowed one hit and one run and a walk in relief.

Before the third out was recorded, Adams State took a 6-2 lead.

In their next at-bat, CSU Pueblo got runners on base but left two stranded in the fifth.

In the B6, the Pack cut into the lead with a run scoring off an RBI-double hit by Brower.

Starting the T7, Adams led off the inning with a solo home run and built a four-run lead again.

In their last chance on offense, the Pack led off with the first three batters reaching safely and Huerta and Falcon scoring to cut the lead down to 7-5 in ASU's favor.

With the tying run at the plate, Grizzlies pitcher Aubree Davis retired the final two batters and close out the win. Davis improves her record to 4-9 on the year. Robertson takes the loss for the Pack and drops to 1-3 on the year.

Up Next
CSU Pueblo (9-12, 8-6 RMAC) and Adams State will finish the series with two more games on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. at Rawlings Softball Complex.