Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Utah State
Rams split home opener
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2008
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Rams finished 1-1 after their first set of home games Saturday, losing to Utah State in the first game, 4-3, and beating the Aggies in the second game, 6-3. Colorado State is now 12-3 on the season.
The Rams started the first game of the day with two home runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Lauren Cusick launched a solo shot to center field to lead off the bottom half of the inning for the Rams and sophomore Ashley Munoz followed Cusick with a solo shot to left field with two outs.
Utah State answered in the top of the second when Aubrie Stroman led off the inning with a home run to right field to make the score 2-1.
The Rams didn't answer until the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Kayla Kreutzman doubled to left center to lead off the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Sarah Sullivan.
The Aggies added another run in the sixth inning when Megan McDonald singled to right field to score Emily Reilly. Utah State took the lead in the top of the seventh inning with a triple from Amy Schaible and a single from Kayla Dunn to give the Aggies the 4-3 advantage.
The Rams were unable to make a comeback in the bottom half of the inning.
Munoz went 2-for-3 in the game with a home run, one RBI and a run scored.
In the circle for the Rams, junior Kim Klabough pitched the complete game giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out one batter.
In the second game, Colorado State bounced back and took another early lead in the bottom of the first when Cusick led off the inning with a triple down the right field line and scored when freshman Caitlan Stem doubled to left field.
The Rams added another run in the bottom of the second when senior Cayte Billman scored on a double by Sullivan to left field. They added another run in the bottom of the third on a double by sophomore Allison Majam.
Utah State scored its first two runs of the game in the fifth inning to make the score 3-2.
The Rams added some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Cusick hit her second home run of the game to center field, this time with sophomore Robyn Mask on base to put the Rams up three runs. They added one more run in the inning on a double by Munoz to score Stem from first.
With one out left in the game, Schaible doubled to score Reilly to cut the Rams lead to 6-3, but senior Billman shut the door and got a ground out to end the game and give the Rams their 12th win of the season.
Cusick went 2-for-4 in the game with a two-run home run and a triple. She also had an RBI and two runs scored.
Billman threw a complete game, giving up four hits while striking out five. She improved to 7-0 on the season with the win Saturday.
The Rams and Aggies finish the three-game series Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Ram Field.
