Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Notre Dame
Rams Take Two In The Desert
2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 18, 2006
Central Michigan Box Notre Dame Box
The Colorado State University softball team moved to 5-3 on the season after picking up two wins on the opening day of the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic on Friday. The Rams opened up the day with a 5-4 victory over Notre Dame, followed by 10-4 win against Central Michigan.
In the opening game of the tournament against Notre Dame, the Rams struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning on a two-RBI triple by senior Katie Dean. The Rams extended their lead to four runs in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two more when junior Jessica Strickland knocked her fifth home run of the season, a two-RBI shot that scored senior transfer Tara Harbert and matched her total from last season.
The Rams added what looked to be an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on a solo home run by junior Stacey Leigh. However, the home run by Leigh proved to be game-saving after a four-run rally by the Fighting Irish in the bottom of the seventh fell just short and the Rams prevailed by a 5-4 final.
Freshman Kim Klabough improved to 3-0 for the Rams on the season, no-hitting the Irish through six innings. She struck out nine batters and walked one, in the first inning of action. Klabough closed the game, allowing three earned runs on four hits, all in the seventh. Strickland picked up her first save of the season, pitching the final two outs of the game to preserve the Rams' victory.
In the Rams' evening game against Central Michigan, Colorado State fell behind early when the Chippewas tallied four runs in the top of the second inning. However, the Rams quickly answered with five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning and never trailed again.
Dean got the Rams on the board, scoring on an RBI single by freshman Shannon Causgrove. After the Rams loaded the bases, Strickland belted a grand slam, her sixth homer of the season, to give the Rams the lead for good.
A two-run homer by junior Brittany Huerta in the bottom of the third gave the Rams some breathing room, 8-4. The Rams added two more in the bottom of the third inning. Strickland, once again, led the charge tripling in Harbert and scoring on a passed ball.
Strickland tallied her second five-RBI game of the season against the Chippewas, tying her career high. She also picked up the complete-game win in the circle, two earned runs on two hits and striking out five batters.
