Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Chattanooga
Softball recap: Rams take one of two in Clearwater
3/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2011
CSU vs. Chattanooga Final Stats | CSU vs. Jacksonville Final Stats
By Meredith Danner
Athletic Media Relations
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Rams went 1-1 on the day to begin the USF The Game Tournament on Friday, first falling to Chattanooga, 9-1, in five innings and later defeating Jacksonville, 2-1, for their second win of the two-weekend Florida road trip.
After one day of tournament play, CSU’s overall record is 6-23. Friday also marked the first start of 2011 for CSU junior pitcher Kelli Eubanks, who was sidelined with injury for the first month of the season.
Against Chattanooga, the Rams scored first, but ultimately fell to the Mocs (8-15, 3-0 Southern Conference) by eight runs. Freshman Morghan Doughty scored on an error by the Chattanooga second-baseman in the first inning to bring in the Rams’ one and only run. Doughty, along with sophomore Brittany Palish, sophomore Brianna Donahue and senior Ivory Allen each collected one of the team’s four hits.
“I still feel the approach at the plate had been really good and just keeps getting better,” CSU Head Coach Jen Fisher said.
CSU freshman Alexa Cash started on the mound for the Rams, giving up all of Chattanooga’s nine runs and striking out one. Freshman Desiree Laswell entered the game in the fourth inning and pitched the remaining 0.2 innings without surrendering a hit.
Eubanks started her first game of the season on a high note against Jacksonville (16-11, 0-0 Atlantic Sun Conference), pitching four scoreless, hitless innings and striking out four.
“She was a huge spark for us tonight,” Fisher said. “She really talks to her defense and catcher; she really thinks just one pitch at a time. That’s just so important to us right now. It was really good for the other kids to see that.”
Jacksonville’s one run came in the fifth inning off of sophomore Kelsey Jo O’Brien, who entered the game in that inning. O’Brien gave up two hits and struck out one in three innings of work.
Freshman Chelsea Biglow was hit by a pitch in the first inning with the bases loaded to bring in the Rams’ first run. Senior Ivory Allen (2-for-4) knocked in her third run in the fourth with a single to the pitcher. In the next inning, Brittany Palish (1-for-2) forced a pitching change after hitting a double to center field.
“We really had some good at bats and were very picky,” Fisher said.
Saturday, the Rams will look to continue their winning ways in Clearwater against Texas A&M at 8 a.m. MT, and later against host South Florida at 1 p.m. MT.
“They’re finally getting to know each other in the field, and that’s really important,” Fisher said. “I think they’ll continue to gel and get to know each other better in the field.”
