Softball recap: Rams split 2nd day of Diamond Devil Invitational

Feb. 21, 2015

CSU-New Mexico State Box Score | CSU-Indiana State Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Colorado State softball team earned a split on Saturday during Day 2 of the Diamond Devil Invitational. The Rams (6-8) started the day with a loss to New Mexico State before turning the day around with a come-from-behind victory over Indiana State.

Game 1: New Mexico State 7, Colorado State 3
The Rams hung with New Mexico State (8-6) blow for blow through the first five innings, but a four-run sixth inning put the Aggies in control of the game, winning 7-3. Freshman Trinity Harrington limited the Aggies to just one baserunner through the first three innings, but the Aggies’ defense was equally efficient, as no runner from either team advanced past first base.

NMSU struck first in the fourth inning, scoring two runs – one of which was unearned – on a long ball. The Rams, though, answered in their half of the fourth. Freshman Savannah Clark doubled to right-center, scoring senior Danielle Wikre, who walked and advanced into scoring position on a Jaelyn Manzanares sacrifice bunt. With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore Haley Hutton knotted the score with an RBI single to right-center, scoring Clark.

CSU again had the bases loaded in the fifth, with all runners reaching base via walks, but again left them stranded.

Still tied at 2-2, the Aggies’ offense opened up in the sixth, scoring four times. After the leadoff hitter reached base on a throwing error, the Rams looked to escape damage, getting the runner caught in between third and home later in the inning. However, a single and pair of fielder’s choices loaded the bases, and NMSU’s Dallas McBride made the Rams pay, doubling to left and to bring in three Aggies. The fourth run of the inning scored after CSU’s second error of the inning.

"They brought three different pitchers at us," Head Coach Jen Fisher said. "Traditionally, it has been difficult for us to adjust quickly, but we're getting better at it because we've seen a lot of it in the past couple of weeks. I think we had some miscues on defense that would have kept us in the game. If we clear up a couple of things on defense then it would have been a much closer game."

Still, though, CSU had a chance in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Madison Kilcrease led off the inning and advanced to second when Hutton singled up the middle. Kilcrease scored on senior Shae Rodriguez’s base hit, and the bases were loaded after a Wikre walk. With three on and one out, CSU couldn’t add any additional runs, though, flying out twice to end the inning. The Rams had two runners on base in the seventh, but came up empty handed. The Rams left 14 runners on base during the game.

Despite her complete-game effort, Harrington was tagged with the loss. She allowed four earned runs. Hutton had two of CSU’s six hits, in addition to a walk.

"I thought Trinity threw well,” Fisher said. “She missed just a couple of pitches, but overall, she's shown a lot of maturity these past three weekends. We think she's able to get a lot of innings and she has really good demeanor in the circle. She's playing good defense for herself, too, so we feel a lot of positives with her."

Game 2: Colorado State 10, Indiana State 6
CSU started its next game as soon as the field was clear, taking on Indiana State (2-5) for the second day in a row. The Rams trailed the Sycamores for four innings before an explosive comeback secured a 10-6 victory, and the 100th win of Fisher’s career at CSU. She is one of just three CSU coaches to reach triple digits, and the second-fastest to do so. The fifth-year coach is 100-114 at CSU, including 92-71 (.564) since the start of 2012 – the year she was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year.

“For us, as a staff, the Indiana State game was the 100th win together,” Fisher said, acknowledging her two assistants, Melissa Martinez and Dedeann Pendleton-Helm.

Trailing by five entering the top of the fourth, CSU chipped away at ISU’s lead with four runs. Following a Rodriguez single, Wikre showed her might with a two-run blast. Then, with the bases loaded after a pair of singles and a walk, Clark scored on a Hannah McCorkhill groundout, and Manzanares came in on a Hutton two-out single.

The Rams locked down and held ISU scoreless in both the fourth and the fifth, and in their half of the fifth, blew the game open with six runs. Just like the fourth inning, Rodriguez led off the inning getting on base – this time via a walk – and came in to score on a Wikre home run.

With its first lead of the game, the scoring wouldn’t stop there. Clark singled up the middle and reached third on a Manzanares double to center. McCorkhill walked to load the bases, and then with two outs, all three came in on an ISU error. Hutton, who advanced to third on the error, scored moments later on a Haley David infield single.

CSU recorded a season-most 13 hits, led by three from Wikre and two apiece from Clark, Hutton, Manzanares and McCorkhill. Hutton and Wikre drove in four runs each, while Clark, Manzanares, Rodriguez and Wikre scored twice.

“It was cool that Wikre had such a great game,” Fisher said. “She’s been a key part of our offense, and she’s a Colorado kid and was in our first recruiting class, so the girls that are seniors now were our first recruits. It’s almost 100 wins for them, too, because they’ve been here for the starting years.

“I thought it was fitting that Wikre had such a great game. She’s been playing well at first base and has been such a key part of our offense for quite some time now. It was fun to see her just play so well. She’s really a student of the game, and even though she’s a senior, she still comes to do work every day in the cage.”

Freshman Logan Losh started in the circle for the Rams, making her collegiate debut. She pitched two and one-third innings, allowing four earned runs. Junior Holly Reinke relieved Losh and picked up the win, pitching four and two-third innings while striking out three and allowing two runs. ISU would be held to one run over the final four innings.

"It was good to get Logan out there," Fisher said. "She's a talented pitcher and has a great demeanor on the mound. She's been working hard and provides a different look. For her first start, we saw some good things out of her. She has a bright future. She gave up a couple of hits in a row, so we had to get Holly in there. We couldn't leave Holly on the bench when we're down in a game. Logan got some good innings, and she'll be back."

CSU returns to the diamond Sunday at 11 a.m. MT for its weekend finale. The Rams will play yet another ranked opponent, taking on No. 15/14 Minnesota.

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