IRVINE, Calif. (January 31, 2026) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team displayed remarkable resilience on Saturday, securing two hard-fought victories on the second day of the CUI Kickoff Classic. The ThunderWolves opened the day by edging out Chico State 3-2 before outlasting Biola 4-3 in a 10-inning defensive marathon.

McKenna James (Sr., Windsor, Colo.) was a force both at the plate and in the circle on Saturday. James went 2-for-3 at the dish with a triple and two RBI in game one and in game two, she finished with a dominant line and tossed ten innings, scattered six hits, gave up three runs, two earned, with three strikeouts and two walks and 132 total pitches.

GAME ONE
The ThunderWolves wasted no time establishing an early lead in the bottom of the first after Caitlyn Cole (Sr., Merced, Calif.) singled and Gissel Morales-Cermeno (Jr., Houston, Tex.) reached on an error, and James next delivered a clutch bunt single to drive in both runners for a 2-0 lead.

CSU Pueblo added an insurance run in the second when Cali Cole (So., Merced, Calif.) scored on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Belah Hrouda (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.). Jaylah Rivera (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) earned the win in the circle, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Kayli Cooper (Jr., North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada) entered in relief to navigate a high-pressure seventh inning, securing her first save of the season.

GAME TWO
The nightcap proved to be a battle of endurance as the Pack went the distance against the Eagles of Biola. CSU Pueblo took an early 2-0 advantage through the first two frames, highlighted by an RBI ground out from Madelyn Huerta (Sr., Azusa, Calif.) that scored Caitlyn Cole and a wild pitch that allowed Reese Reimler (Fr., Champlin, Minn.) to cross the plate.

Biola fought back to tie the game at 2-2 in the sixth, eventually forcing extra innings. After both teams traded runs in the ninth, the ThunderWolves broke the stalemate in the tenth. Darleen Falcon (Sr., Moreno Valley, Calif.) scored the deciding run on a wild pitch to give the Pack the final 4-3 edge.

Up Next
The Pack will face tournament-host Concordia-Irvine at Noon (MT) at OC Great Park.