LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Behind a dominant performance in the circle from
McKenna James (Sr., Windsor, Colo.) and a clutch solo home run by
Darleen Falcon (Sr., Moreno Valley, Calif.), the Colorado State University Pueblo softball team punched its ticket to the RMAC Tournament Championship game with a 1-0 victory over MSU Denver Friday afternoon at All Star Park.
The win marked the first RMAC Tournament victory for the ThunderWolves over the Roadrunners and improved CSU Pueblo to 39-16 overall on the season.
James was sensational in the circle, tossing a complete-game one-hit shutout while allowing just one walk and striking out five in only 89 pitches. The senior improved to 20-9 on the season, becoming just the third pitcher in program history and the fourth overall for a CSU Pueblo pitcher to reach the 20-win mark in a season.
MSU Denver managed its lone hit in the fourth inning, but James and the Pack defense never allowed the Roadrunners to mount a serious scoring threat. CSU Pueblo finished the contest without committing an error defensively.
The ThunderWolves scratched across the game's only run in the bottom of the third inning when Falcon launched a two-out solo home run to left field. The blast proved to be enough support for James and gave CSU Pueblo a 1-0 advantage it would not relinquish.
Offensively, CSU Pueblo was limited to just two hits, with Falcon and James each recording one.
Caitlyn Cole (Sr., Merced, Calif.) reached base twice via walks and added a stolen base as the Pack worked five walks against MSU Denver starter Natalie Romero.
The Roadrunners threatened in the fourth inning after a single and walk put two runners aboard with one out, but James responded with back-to-back outs to preserve the shutout.
CSU Pueblo retired the final nine batters of the game to secure its spot in Saturday's contest.
The ThunderWolves will now face top-seeded and host Colorado Christian in the RMAC Tournament Championship game Saturday at noon at All Star Park. An automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament will be on the line. CCU defeated UCCS 6-3 in the other semifinal.
-PACK-
