Colorado State University Athletics
Softball preview: Rams set to host Mountain West opener
3/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2015
Weekly Release #7 (PDF)
Game 32: CSU vs. Fresno State | Friday, March 20 | 4 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
Game 33: CSU vs. Fresno State | Saturday, March 21 | 1 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
Game 34: CSU vs. Fresno State | Sunday, March 22 | 12 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
Game 35: CSU vs. Northern Colorado| Wednesday, March 25 | 4 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE
The Colorado State softball team begins conference play on Friday, and first up is arguably the top team in the Mountain West. Fresno State holds a MW-leading 19-10 record through non-conference action, and was the favorite to win the league in the coaches' preseason ballot, earning seven of nine first-place votes. The Bulldogs have not played a true road game this season.
In 29 games, senior outfielder Brenna Moss holds a .500 batting average, scoring a team-most 31 runs while stealing 17 bases. She is the reigning MW Player of the Week, while junior Jill Compton earned MW Pitcher of the Week honors on Tuesday. Compton is 11-7 on the year and has tallied three shutouts and 117 strikeouts while recording a 2.62 ERA. Moss' batting average ranks 21st nationally, one of four categories she ranks in the top 55 for. Compton's strikeouts and wins both rank in the top 25 in the NCAA.
Fresno State has a strong edge over CSU in the all-time series, winning 28 of the 31 contests, but the Rams and Bulldogs are 3-3 since Fresno State joined the MW in 2013.
MAKING A STATEMENT
When Head Coach Jen Fisher took over the CSU softball program prior to the 2011 season, the Rams hadn't finished in the top two in the Mountain West since winning the regular-season title in 2003. Just one year later, the Rams went 8-4, and were tied for second, and repeated the feat the following year. In 2014, CSU entered the final day of the season in contention for a conference title, before splitting with San JoséState.
Needless to say, the Rams are hungry for more after being so close the past several years. CSU was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll after graduating five starters from last year's quad.
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
CSU competed in the Cal State Northridge Tournament last weekend, going 4-1 with victories over Buffalo, Bryant and Iona (twice). On the weekend, CSU earned two shutouts and out-scored its opponents, 34-9. CSU's lone loss was to Cal State Northridge, the tournament host and a team receiving top-25 votes.
STREAKING
The Rams knew they were better than their 7-12 record to start the season showed. Sure, they had played some of the nation's top teams, but they still thought they had more to prove. Since the calendar flipped to March, they have been nearly unstoppable, going 11-1, including an 11-game win streak.
The streak - which was snapped last Sunday at Cal State Northridge - was the program's longest since winning 13 in a row in 2003, and the third-longest dating back to 1997.
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
Playing on its home field has become important to the Rams. Not only do the players get to sleep in their own beds and attend class, but the team also plays better at home. Dating back to the start of the 2014 season, CSU has won 20 of its last 25 home games, including a 5-0 start to 2015. CSU's 15-5 home mark in 2014 was its best since 2004.
OVER THE LIMIT
Despite losing several key components from last year's team, the Rams are among the top offensive squads in the Mountain West. CSU ranks high in several statistical categories, and is doing so in non-traditional ways. The Rams rank just seventh for batting average (.287) and eighth for slugging percentage (.406), but have scored the second-most runs (176), and hold the third-highest on-base percentage (.399). Additionally, CSU ranks first for walks, second for sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, triples and home runs, and third for total bases and hits by pitch.
Individually, sophomore Haley Hutton leads the Mountain West and ranks 22nd nationally for walks (27), while several other players rank among the league's leaders in a variety of categories. A complete breakdown can be found on Page 4 of the PDF.
SPEEDY ON THE BASES
CSU is scoring runs at a high rate, averaging 5.68 runs per game, which ranks 71st in the NCAA. While the Rams have power, a lot of it has to do with playing small ball. A large number of CSU's hits have been infield singles. The Rams also lead the league for walks and rank second for sacrifices, allowing runners to get in scoring position.
Perhaps the largest contributor, though, is stolen bases. Already this season, CSU has stolen 48 bases - which is tops in the MW, ranks fourth in CSU history and is 15 more than the Rams had during the entire 2014 season. The team isn't just quick, but it is efficient, only being thrown out four times. Nine different players have at least one stolen base, and three Rams rank in the top 10 in the MW, led by senior Haley David's 10.
STEPPING UP
After graduating six of the Rams' top offensive weapons a year ago, CSU has quickly reloaded, with both newcomers and veteran players taking on a larger role.
Senior Haley David, a lifetime .287 hitter with 31 career hits entering this season, ranks second on the team with a .340 batting average (36-for-106). David has scored 20 runs and has a team-most 10 stolen bases, a figure which ranks third in the Mountain West. Additionally, senior Taylor Hutton and junior Jaelyn Manzanares are averaging a combined 1.29 RBI per game, up from their 0.23 career average entering this year. Hutton also has 21 runs scored and nine stolen bases, while Manzanares has recorded four home runs and a conference-most seven hits by pitch.
Several freshmen have made immediate impacts, as well, with five earning starts already this season. Freshman Savannah Clark ranks in the top 10 in the MW for RBI (24; eighth), doubles (nine; third) and assists (52; ninth), while Madison Kilcrease has recorded 14 runs scored and Hannah McCorkhill is hitting .389 and slugging .611 in limited time. In the circle, Logan Losh is 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and team-best 0.94 strikeouts-per-inning average.
TRENDING
When the Rams score five or more runs, there's a good chance they'll win the ballgame. They are 18-4 on the year when reaching that threshold, while 0-9 when being held to four runs or fewer. Conversely, CSU is 15-1 when holding opponents to four runs or fewer and just 3-12 when allowing at least five runs. CSU is also 3-0 in shutouts this season and 1-0 in extra-inning contests.
THE VIEW FROM 100
With CSU's 10-6 win over Indiana State on Feb. 21, Head Coach Jen Fisher earned her 100th career victory as a Ram. Fisher, now at 112-119 in four-plus seasons in Fort Collins, is one of three CSU coaches to reach triple digits, and the second-fastest to do so. Even more impressive, Fisher's Rams are 104-76 since the start of the 2012 season.
Success seems to follow Fisher wherever she goes. Prior to her time in Fort Collins, she went 355-119 at Otero Junior College and 125-36 while resurrecting the Metro State softball program. She led the Roadrunners to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the College World Series semifinals. After an 8-43 season in 2011, her first in Fort Collins, she has since led the Rams to three-consecutive winning seasons.
NO-HIT WONDER
Molly Randle recorded the first win of her senior season against IPFW on Feb. 14, and it was a big one. Randle didn't surrender a single hit to the Mastodons batters, recording CSU's first no-hitter since Kelli Eubanks in 2010. The Texas native tossed six innings in the circle, striking out three and walking two. The Rams won the game, 10-0, after six innings.
CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
The Rams want to be at their best in conference play, and in order to do so, Head Coach Jen Fisher and her staff scheduled a challenging non-conference schedule. Of CSU's 24 opponents so far, six were ranked or receiving top-25 votes when the two teams met.
While CSU is 0-7 against those teams, three of the games have been decided by three runs or fewer, and against No. 15/14 Minnesota, the Rams led entering the sixth inning. In addition to Arizona, Arizona State, Cal State Northridge, Minnesota, Nebraska and Texas (twice), two of CSU's MW foes - Fresno State and San Diego State - have received votes this season.
LOOKING AHEAD
CSU will quickly step out of non-conference play for a date with Northern Colorado on Wednesday, March, 25, before traveling to San Jose, Calif., to face the Spartans in a three-game set. CSU played UNC earlier in March, with the Rams holding on for an 8-6 road victory. The Spartans were picked to finish just behind CSU in the preseason poll, but currently are in second place with a 19-11 non-conference record.
Game 32: CSU vs. Fresno State | Friday, March 20 | 4 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
Game 33: CSU vs. Fresno State | Saturday, March 21 | 1 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
Game 34: CSU vs. Fresno State | Sunday, March 22 | 12 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
Game 35: CSU vs. Northern Colorado| Wednesday, March 25 | 4 p.m. MT | Video Stream|Live Stats
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE
The Colorado State softball team begins conference play on Friday, and first up is arguably the top team in the Mountain West. Fresno State holds a MW-leading 19-10 record through non-conference action, and was the favorite to win the league in the coaches' preseason ballot, earning seven of nine first-place votes. The Bulldogs have not played a true road game this season.
In 29 games, senior outfielder Brenna Moss holds a .500 batting average, scoring a team-most 31 runs while stealing 17 bases. She is the reigning MW Player of the Week, while junior Jill Compton earned MW Pitcher of the Week honors on Tuesday. Compton is 11-7 on the year and has tallied three shutouts and 117 strikeouts while recording a 2.62 ERA. Moss' batting average ranks 21st nationally, one of four categories she ranks in the top 55 for. Compton's strikeouts and wins both rank in the top 25 in the NCAA.
Fresno State has a strong edge over CSU in the all-time series, winning 28 of the 31 contests, but the Rams and Bulldogs are 3-3 since Fresno State joined the MW in 2013.
MAKING A STATEMENT
When Head Coach Jen Fisher took over the CSU softball program prior to the 2011 season, the Rams hadn't finished in the top two in the Mountain West since winning the regular-season title in 2003. Just one year later, the Rams went 8-4, and were tied for second, and repeated the feat the following year. In 2014, CSU entered the final day of the season in contention for a conference title, before splitting with San JoséState.
Needless to say, the Rams are hungry for more after being so close the past several years. CSU was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll after graduating five starters from last year's quad.
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
CSU competed in the Cal State Northridge Tournament last weekend, going 4-1 with victories over Buffalo, Bryant and Iona (twice). On the weekend, CSU earned two shutouts and out-scored its opponents, 34-9. CSU's lone loss was to Cal State Northridge, the tournament host and a team receiving top-25 votes.
STREAKING
The Rams knew they were better than their 7-12 record to start the season showed. Sure, they had played some of the nation's top teams, but they still thought they had more to prove. Since the calendar flipped to March, they have been nearly unstoppable, going 11-1, including an 11-game win streak.
The streak - which was snapped last Sunday at Cal State Northridge - was the program's longest since winning 13 in a row in 2003, and the third-longest dating back to 1997.
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
Playing on its home field has become important to the Rams. Not only do the players get to sleep in their own beds and attend class, but the team also plays better at home. Dating back to the start of the 2014 season, CSU has won 20 of its last 25 home games, including a 5-0 start to 2015. CSU's 15-5 home mark in 2014 was its best since 2004.
OVER THE LIMIT
Despite losing several key components from last year's team, the Rams are among the top offensive squads in the Mountain West. CSU ranks high in several statistical categories, and is doing so in non-traditional ways. The Rams rank just seventh for batting average (.287) and eighth for slugging percentage (.406), but have scored the second-most runs (176), and hold the third-highest on-base percentage (.399). Additionally, CSU ranks first for walks, second for sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, triples and home runs, and third for total bases and hits by pitch.
Individually, sophomore Haley Hutton leads the Mountain West and ranks 22nd nationally for walks (27), while several other players rank among the league's leaders in a variety of categories. A complete breakdown can be found on Page 4 of the PDF.
SPEEDY ON THE BASES
CSU is scoring runs at a high rate, averaging 5.68 runs per game, which ranks 71st in the NCAA. While the Rams have power, a lot of it has to do with playing small ball. A large number of CSU's hits have been infield singles. The Rams also lead the league for walks and rank second for sacrifices, allowing runners to get in scoring position.
Perhaps the largest contributor, though, is stolen bases. Already this season, CSU has stolen 48 bases - which is tops in the MW, ranks fourth in CSU history and is 15 more than the Rams had during the entire 2014 season. The team isn't just quick, but it is efficient, only being thrown out four times. Nine different players have at least one stolen base, and three Rams rank in the top 10 in the MW, led by senior Haley David's 10.
STEPPING UP
After graduating six of the Rams' top offensive weapons a year ago, CSU has quickly reloaded, with both newcomers and veteran players taking on a larger role.
Senior Haley David, a lifetime .287 hitter with 31 career hits entering this season, ranks second on the team with a .340 batting average (36-for-106). David has scored 20 runs and has a team-most 10 stolen bases, a figure which ranks third in the Mountain West. Additionally, senior Taylor Hutton and junior Jaelyn Manzanares are averaging a combined 1.29 RBI per game, up from their 0.23 career average entering this year. Hutton also has 21 runs scored and nine stolen bases, while Manzanares has recorded four home runs and a conference-most seven hits by pitch.
Several freshmen have made immediate impacts, as well, with five earning starts already this season. Freshman Savannah Clark ranks in the top 10 in the MW for RBI (24; eighth), doubles (nine; third) and assists (52; ninth), while Madison Kilcrease has recorded 14 runs scored and Hannah McCorkhill is hitting .389 and slugging .611 in limited time. In the circle, Logan Losh is 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and team-best 0.94 strikeouts-per-inning average.
TRENDING
When the Rams score five or more runs, there's a good chance they'll win the ballgame. They are 18-4 on the year when reaching that threshold, while 0-9 when being held to four runs or fewer. Conversely, CSU is 15-1 when holding opponents to four runs or fewer and just 3-12 when allowing at least five runs. CSU is also 3-0 in shutouts this season and 1-0 in extra-inning contests.
THE VIEW FROM 100
With CSU's 10-6 win over Indiana State on Feb. 21, Head Coach Jen Fisher earned her 100th career victory as a Ram. Fisher, now at 112-119 in four-plus seasons in Fort Collins, is one of three CSU coaches to reach triple digits, and the second-fastest to do so. Even more impressive, Fisher's Rams are 104-76 since the start of the 2012 season.
Success seems to follow Fisher wherever she goes. Prior to her time in Fort Collins, she went 355-119 at Otero Junior College and 125-36 while resurrecting the Metro State softball program. She led the Roadrunners to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the College World Series semifinals. After an 8-43 season in 2011, her first in Fort Collins, she has since led the Rams to three-consecutive winning seasons.
NO-HIT WONDER
Molly Randle recorded the first win of her senior season against IPFW on Feb. 14, and it was a big one. Randle didn't surrender a single hit to the Mastodons batters, recording CSU's first no-hitter since Kelli Eubanks in 2010. The Texas native tossed six innings in the circle, striking out three and walking two. The Rams won the game, 10-0, after six innings.
CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
The Rams want to be at their best in conference play, and in order to do so, Head Coach Jen Fisher and her staff scheduled a challenging non-conference schedule. Of CSU's 24 opponents so far, six were ranked or receiving top-25 votes when the two teams met.
While CSU is 0-7 against those teams, three of the games have been decided by three runs or fewer, and against No. 15/14 Minnesota, the Rams led entering the sixth inning. In addition to Arizona, Arizona State, Cal State Northridge, Minnesota, Nebraska and Texas (twice), two of CSU's MW foes - Fresno State and San Diego State - have received votes this season.
LOOKING AHEAD
CSU will quickly step out of non-conference play for a date with Northern Colorado on Wednesday, March, 25, before traveling to San Jose, Calif., to face the Spartans in a three-game set. CSU played UNC earlier in March, with the Rams holding on for an 8-6 road victory. The Spartans were picked to finish just behind CSU in the preseason poll, but currently are in second place with a 19-11 non-conference record.
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