Colorado State University Athletics
Softball Picks Up Right Where They Left Off
9/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Fort Collins, Colo. ? With a 9-2 record to close out the fall season, it looks as though the Rams softball team, last year?s Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions, have picked up right where they left off.
The Rams? lone two losses came in the first two games of the fall to perennial top-25 opponent Nebraska by scores of 6-4 and 3-0. ?I felt like our team played well enough to win those games,? said head coach Mary Yori.
The Rams bounced back from those two opening losses, taking nine straight to end the fall. The team defeated Wayne State and North Dakota State by scores of 9-1 and 5-1, respectively, to close out the Nebraska Big Red Fall Classic. Rams pitchers then shutout Northern Colorado in a double header in Greeley, to defeat the Bears 13-0 and 9-0.
Colorado State returned home to Fort Collins, to win the Triple Crown Fall Classic. The Rams defeated Regis by a score of 5-0, the third straight shutout for the Rams, followed by a 3-2 win over the Colorado School of Mines in nine innings. The team went on to defeat Mesa State (10-1), UC Colorado Springs (8-2), and CSU-Pueblo (8-2).
?This was the best fall we have ever had in four years,? said Yori. ?We got great leadership from our upperclassmen, as well as great performances from freshmen. I think that our freshmen became more and more confident by the end of the fall.?
The Rams pitching staff continued its tear as the Rams recorded three straight shutouts, and allowed only 18 runs in 11 games. Yori was pleased with her staff?s performance saying, ?Our veteran pitchers came out ready to throw this fall. We know that it doesn?t matter who is pitching, we?ll get a great performance out of them.?
Another bright spot for the Rams was the play of 3B Rachelle Padeway, a sophomore transfer from Northeastern Junior College. ?Rachelle hadn?t played third base at this level, but when we told her that we needed some help at the position, she was willing. She has done a great job,? said Yori.
?Our players are excited. We have a group that feels good about what we accomplished this fall and wants to work hard to prepare for this spring,? added Yori.
