Colorado State University Athletics
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Softball recap: Rams lose to Missouri State, Wisconsin
2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 18, 2011
CSU vs. Missouri State Final Stats | CSU vs. Wisconsin Final Stats
By Meredith Danner
Athletic Media Relations
AUSTIN, Texas – The CSU softball team opened play at the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational Friday evening, falling to Missouri State and Wisconsin at Texas’ McCombs Field. The Rams started the tournament with an 8-2 loss to Missouri State, before dropping a 5-2 decision against Wisconsin.
With the losses, the team’s record dipped below .500, to 2-4. CSU collected 12 total hits on the day, but brought home just three runs. “We’re just so young, and we’ve just got to keep getting better,” CSU Head Coach Jen Fisher said.
In Game 1, the Rams scored early, putting their only two runs on the board in the first inning. Freshman Emily Pohl (2-for-4) doubled to left center to bring in Caitlan Stem and advanced to third on a passed ball before freshman Chelsea Biglow singled up the middle to score Pohl.
Missouri State scored four runs the next inning and would hold the lead for the rest of the game. Alexa Cash (0-1) started on the mound for the Rams, pitching 1.2 innings. She allowed four runs and receiving her first pitching decision of the year. Kelsey Jo O’Brien came on in relief of Cash in the second inning, allowing four runs on six hits.
“[O’Brien’]’s got a really great attitude on the mound,” Fisher said. “The other kids really respect her. She keeps getting better and better.”
CSU matched up against Wisconsin next, but effective pitching from Badgers’ starter Meghan McIntosh held the Rams to only one run. That run came in the fourth inning, when Biglow collected her fifth hit of the season, a single to right field that scored Stem.
The Badgers scored two runs in the first off O’Brien (2-3), who earned the start for the Rams. Freshman Desiree Laswell entered the game in the second, allowing just two runs on two hits over five innings of work and striking out three.
“[Desiree] did a really nice job shutting down Wisconsin,” Fisher said. “She came in and really hit corners. I was proud of her for just hitting her spots and doing what she needs to do to be successful.”
Tomorrow, the Rams will take on the host, and No. 13/13-ranked, Texas Longhorns. It will be the first meeting between the two programs. With a decisive win Friday against Wisconsin, the Longhorns’ moved to 7-0 to start the season. CSU will then play in a semifinal game at either 3 p.m. MT or 5:30 MT, depending on how the teams are seeded.
“What I hope is that from this experience they keep seeing better pitching, have good at-bats and battle in there,” Fisher said. “That’s what it’s all about, playing the best of the best.”
