LAKEWOOD, Colo. - The long wait is over for Colorado State University Pueblo softball. Behind another dominant performance from tournament MVP
McKenna James (Sr., Windsor, Colo.) and a six-run fourth inning explosion, the ThunderWolves captured their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship since 2001 with an 8-2 victory over top-seeded Colorado Christian Saturday afternoon at All Star Park.
The victory pushed CSU Pueblo to 40-16 overall, marking the program's first 40-win season since the 2001 squad won 51 games and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Pack will now make their third NCAA Regional appearance in program history and first since 2009.
CSU Pueblo will learn its NCAA Tournament destination, opponent and seed during Monday morning's NCAA Selection Show scheduled for 8 a.m.
Following the championship run, James was named the RMAC Tournament MVP, while
Madelyn Huerta (Sr., Azusa, Calif.),
Caitlyn Cole (Sr., Merced, Calif.),
Darleen Falcon (Sr., Moreno Valley, Calif.) and
Emma Case (Jr., Loveland, Colo.) all earned spots on the RMAC All-Tournament Team.
CSU Pueblo struck first after Falcon drew a leadoff walk and
Reese Reimler (Fr., Champlin, Minn.) reached after being hit by a pitch, Huerta delivered the first big swing of the afternoon with a two-run single to center field.
CCU responded and evened the score in their first at bat when Arianna Wright connected on a two-run home run to left center.
From there, James settled into complete control inside the circle.
The senior right-hander retired 12 of the next 14 batters after the opening inning and kept one of the nation's most dangerous offenses scoreless the rest of the way. James went the distance to earn the 21st victory of the season, allowing just two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 103 pitches.
The game completely turned in the top of the fourth inning as CSU Pueblo erupted for six runs on four hits while taking advantage of three Colorado Christian errors.
Reimler started the rally after reaching on an error before Huerta and James followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Moments later,
Emma Case ripped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to put the ThunderWolves in front 5-2.
CSU Pueblo continued to pour on pressure as
Caitlyn Cole added an RBI single, while aggressive base running and another Cougar miscue helped the Pack extend the lead to 8-2 before the inning came to a close.
The ThunderWolves defense contributed its outstanding tournament play behind James. Huerta anchored the infield with another clean defensive performance, while Falcon and
Caitlyn Cole helped patrol the outfield as CSU Pueblo finished the game without an error.
James closed out the championship in dominant fashion, retiring the final six batters she faced to send the ThunderWolves into celebration mode as the Pack secured its first RMAC Tournament title in 25 years.
Case finished with a team-high three RBIs after her clutch fourth inning double, while Huerta added two RBIs. James helped her own cause offensively by going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Reimler scored twice, while Falcon also crossed the plate twice for the Pack.
CSU Pueblo finished the game with eight runs on seven hits and left six runners on base, while CCU was limited to just six hits after the first inning.
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