Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Utah
Offensive Outburst Lifts Rams Over Utes, 20-5
4/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2007
The Colorado State offense exploded on Saturday afternoon to snap a four-game losing streak and give the Rams a 20-5 victory in six innings. With the victory, the Rams improve to 24-23 (3-5 MWC), while the Utes fall to 21-20-1 (2-8 MWC).
Colorado State added to its Mountain West Conference leading home run total with two round-trippers on the afternoon from seniors Brittany Huerta and Jessica Strickland. Huerta's solo shot to lead off the fifth inning marked the 32nd of her career, tying the school-record held by former NFCA 1st Team All-American Sara Fredstrom (1995-98). Strickland moved into a tie for third on that list with Holly Schmillen (1998-01) with the 30th home run of her career, a three-run shot to left field in the sixth inning.
The Rams collected 15 hits in the contest, and seven players in the Rams' lineup recorded at least two hits in the game. Five players scored multiple runs for the Rams, led by junior Lauren Cusick (4). Five players also recorded multiple RBI, led by senior Stacey Leigh (4). Strickland recorded three runs and added three RBI in the contest.
Leigh doubled with two outs in the first inning to score Cusick and Strickland to give the Rams an early lead, but the Utes responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Cusick scored the Rams' third run of the game in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman Ashley Munoz. Once again, the Utes matched the Rams in the bottom of the third inning to tie the score, 3-3.
However, the Rams scored 17 runs in the final three innings of the contest with the help of five errors by Utah. Colorado State sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth inning, scoring six runs in the inning. The Utes got back two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Utah's Kara Foster hit a two-run shot off of CSU starter Kim Klabough (9-8), who picked up the victory.
Following Foster's home run, CSU freshman hurler Rebecca Penland entered the contest and shut down the Utes. She closed the game allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out four batters. The Rams added three runs in the top of the fifth inning, beginning with Huerta's solo homer. In the sixth, CSU sent 10 batters to the plate and scored eight runs to put the game out of reach.
The Rams have four games remaining on this current eight-game stretch away from Ram Field. CSU will head to Las Vegas, Nev. to face the UNLV Rebels in a doubleheader on April 27 beginning at 6 p.m. MT. The Rams will then play two against the San Diego State Aztecs on April 28 and 29.
