Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
North Texas
Ram Softball Advances To Championship Game
2/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 10, 2007
North Texas Box Score
New Mexico State Box Score
The Colorado State softball team will play New Mexico State for the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational tournament championship tomorrow in Las Cruces, N.M., after beating North Texas 8-7 in the first round. The Rams are 2-3 on the season, but 2-2 in the tournament. The Rams lost 7-4 to New Mexico State earlier before grabbing an 8-7 victory over North Texas.
Head Coach Mary Yori commented, "I'm happy we came back to beat North Texas in a revenge game and we get a chance to try and beat New Mexico State tomorrow for the championship. We are hitting the ball really well and we are getting a lot of production from a lot of different players."
The Rams faced New Mexico State this morning in their second matchup of the weekend. The Aggies took an early 2-0 lead with a two RBI-single from Angie Ortega.
Colorado State picked up its first run in the top of the third when senior Brittany Huerta led off with a home run to center field. The Rams tallied two more in the fourth to take their only lead of the game, 3-1. Freshman Ashley Munoz hit a two-run homer to score Strickland and finish the inning.
New Mexico State rebounded, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kristi Randall doubled to score two runners before Stephanie Herrera homered to bring in two more, putting the Aggies on top, 6-3. Ashley Frisby hit a solo home run in the sixth to push New Mexico State to 7-3.
Unfortunately, Colorado State couldn't recover, tallying just one run in the seventh. Freshman Robyn Mask hit her second home run of the weekend to end the Rams' scoring drought, but it wasn't enough and the Rams fell 7-4.
Freshman Rebecca Penland started in the circle for the Rams, pitching 0.1 innings and allowing two runs before sophomore Kim Klabough entered the game. She pitched 3.2 innings and allowed four runs while striking out four batters. Strickland finished the game for the Rams, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing one run and striking out two batters. Klabough fell to 0-2 with the loss.
In the second game, North Texas took an early 3-0 lead off of a three RBI-double by Susan Waters in the bottom of the first inning.
Colorado State answered, notching two runs in the top of the second. Junior Julia Kloppe hit a double to center field before Huerta singled. Freshman Kayla Kreutzman doubled to score Kloppe. Kreutzman advanced and Huerta scored on a passed ball.
The Rams tallied another run in the fourth off a home run by Huerta to tie the game, 3-3.
North Texas got two more runs in the fifth on an error by second base freshman Adriana Lira to move ahead, 5-3.
Colorado State exploded in the top of the sixth, putting up five runs to take an 8-5 lead. The Rams' offense produced three home runs within the first four batters. Huerta led off with her second home run of the game followed by a pair of freshman, Mask and Allison Majam. Munoz walked and advanced to third on junior Lauren Cusick's double. Munoz scored on a wild pitch followed by Cusick making it home on Strickland's single.
North Texas fought back, posting two more runs in the seventh, but fell just short to give the Rams an 8-7 victory.
Huerta led the Rams with a 3-for-4 game with two home runs and two RBI. Strickland picked up the complete game for the Rams, allowing seven runs and striking out seven batters. She improves to 2-0 on the season with the win.
Colorado State is set to face New Mexico State in the championship game of the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M. tomorrow. The game is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
