Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
UNLV
Rams Split MWC double header with UNLV
4/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2006
Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
The Colorado State University softball team (22-10, 3-1 MWC) split a conference double header with the UNLV Rebels Friday night. The Rams beat the Rebels by a final of 8-2 in game one, followed by a 5-4 loss in game two.
In game one, the Rams opened scoring in the top of the first inning. Senior Tara Harbert was a hit by a pitch before she stole second base, her 23rd stolen base this season. Junior Jessica Strickland reached on an error before sophomore Lauren Cusick doubled to left center to bring in Harbert and Strickland, putting the Rams on top 2-0.
The Rams scored two more runs in the third inning when Strickland led with a single to right field. Cusick singled to the left side and Strickland advanced before stealing third base. Senior Katie Dean singled up the center to score Strickland and Cusick and close the inning with the Rams up 4-0.
The Rebels answered in the bottom of the third, posting two runs of their own, cutting the Rams' lead to 4-2. Senior Becky McDonald led with a walk. Junior Brittany Freight followed with a single to center field before she stole second base. Senior Maggie Livreri was hit by a pitch and sophomore Shannon Crisp singled to score McDonald and Freight.
The Rams doubled their score in the top of the fifth when Strickland and Cusick started with singles. Junior Stacey Leigh walked and freshman Kim Klabough singled to third base. Leigh added a run when Dean singled to right field. Sophomore Julia Kloppe homered to left field, her third this season, to finish the scoring and give the Rams an 8-2 advantage.
Klabough (12-2) picked up the complete game victory, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out six batters.
In the second game, junior Brittany Freight led the Rebels to a 5-4 victory. Freight started with a single to shortstop and advanced on a sac bunt by freshman Brittany Bolinger. Sophomore Shannon Crisp singled to score Freight and give the Rebels their first run of the game in the first inning.
The Rams responded in the second inning with a single from Dean. Freshman Renee Welty walked and freshman Shannon Causgrove hit a single to tie the game at one with the run from Dean. Senior Jennifer Gardner reached on a fielder's choice and Welty scored to give the Rams a 2-1 advantage.
The Rebels bounced back in the third inning when Freight led with another single. Bolinger advanced to third on a throwing error and Freight scored. Crisp walked and sophomore Rosa Ordaz singled to bring in Bolinger, putting the Rebels up 3-2.
Colorado State would get their final two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Kloppe hit a single through the left side and Dean reached on a fielder's choice before advancing to second on a throwing error. Freshman Jamie Wong pinch ran for Kloppe. Causgrove and Gardner both reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Wong and Dean.
UNLV concluded the scoring, posting two additional runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. McDonald singled and advanced to second on an error by shortstop Rachelle Padeway. McDonald advanced to third on a sac bunt by senior Britney Hillyer. Freight hit a single to left field to score McDonald. Freight advanced to second base on a sac bunt by Bolinger. Freight scored the Rebels' final run off of Livreri's single to left field, edging out the Rams 5-4.
Strickland (9-8) started game two and picked up the loss allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings. Klabough pitched two innings in relief of Strickland, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out two batters.
The Rams will continue Mountain West Conference play on their home field with double headers against Utah on April 14 and BYU on April 15. The first game of the double headers are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. MT and 12 p.m. MT, respectively.
