PUEBLO, Colo. (February 21, 2026) - The Colorado State University Pueblo softball team opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play with a split against Chadron State Saturday at Rawlings Softball Complex. Due to poor weather in Nebraska, the series was moved to Pueblo with the ThunderWolves designated the visiting team.

On the day, Gissel Morales-Cermeno (Jr., Houston, Tex.) had a fantastic day offensively and slugged her first two home runs of her Pack career.

In the circle, McKenna James (Sr., Windsor, Colo.) was effective in two appearances including getting the win in game one.

CSU Pueblo earned an 8-0 run-rule victory in the opener before falling 6-5 in walk-off fashion in game two.

The split moves the ThunderWolves to 5-7 overall and 1-1 in RMAC play.

Game One: CSU Pueblo 8, Chadron State 0 (5 inn.)
The ThunderWolves used a dominant pitching performance from James and a six-run fifth inning to secure the run-rule victory.

James improved to 3-3 on the season after tossing a complete game one-hitter, striking out seven and allowing just two walks in five shutout innings.

CSU Pueblo wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Caitlyn Cole (Sr., Merced, Calif.) doubled to open the game and later scored on an error to give the Pack a 1-0 lead in the first. Emma Case (Jr., Loveland, Colo.) added an RBI double and Darleen Falcon (Sr., Moreno Valley, Calif.) drove in a run with a bunt to extend the lead to 2-0 after two innings.

The Pack broke the game open in the fift, plating six runs on six hits. Morales-Cermeno sparked the rally with a double and later stole home. James added an RBI single, Case and Cali Cole (So., Merced, Calif.) each drove in runs with singles, and Falcon and Belah Hrouda (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.) capped the inning with RBI ground outs.

James also led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double, while Case finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. CSU Pueblo totaled nine hits and did not commit an error.

Game Two: CSU Pueblo 5, Chadron State 6
The ThunderWolves jumped out early and received a big offensive performance from Morales-Cermeno but could not hold off a late Chadron State comeback.

Morales-Cermeno accounted for five RBI, including a solo home run in the first inning and a three-run homer in the fifth to give CSU Pueblo a 5-2 advantage. She finished 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI.

Caitlyn Cole added two hits and two runs, while Lydia Tibbals (So., Springville, Utah) chipped in two hits as part of the Thunderwolves' 10-hit effort.

Chadron State responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game, taking advantage of defensive miscues. The Eagles completed teh comeback in the seventh, scoring the winning run on an RBI single following two CSU Pueblo errors.

Jaylah Rivera (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) started in the circle and allowed five runs (two earned) in 4.1 innings pitched, while James struck out four over 1.1 innings of relief.

Up Next
The ThunderWolves and Eagles will conclude the four-game RMAC series Sunday at Rawlings Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. with CSU Pueblo again servicing as the designated visiting team.