Colorado State University Athletics
Wednesday, March 25
Fort Collins, Colo.
4:00 PM
Colorado State
19-16
6
vs
0
Northern Colorado
5-17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northern Colorado
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Colorado State
2
1
3
0
0
0
X
6
6
1
Softball recap: Harrington blanks Bears
3/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 25, 2015
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State looked dominant in all phases of the game Wednesday, blanking Northern Colorado, 6-0, at Ram Field. Freshman Trinity Harrington pitched all seven innings, tossing her second-consecutive complete-game shutout.
Harrington set down the Bears (5-17) in order through the first three innings, and didn't allow a hit until the fifth. Even then, she allowed just two hits in the entire game. Over her past two starts, she has thrown two complete-game shutouts, allowing a combined zero runs, five hits, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
"Trinity was dealing," Head Coach Jen Fisher said. "She was mowing them down, and I really like her attitude in the circle. It's that `go for it' attitude, and I think we need more of that. I like what she's brought to this team as a freshman."
While Harrington was near-perfect in the circle, CSU's offense lit up UNC with two runs in the first, one in the second and three more in the third courtesy of a Danielle Wikre home run. In addition to CSU's six hits, the Rams (19-16) walked nine times, were hit by one pitch and recorded a sacrifice bunt.
"I think it felt good for them to just swing the bat," Fisher said. "Larry Walker used to take a game off when the Rockies were facing Randy Johnson because he would just get in your head, and I think it was similar this past weekend with Fresno State. (Jill) Compton was so tough, it was nice to be able to just come out and swing the bat with some confidence today."
The Rams' first two runs came four batters into their lineup, with senior Haley David recording a one-out walk and stealing second. Senior Shae Rodriguez doubled to right-center, setting up a two-run double for freshman Savannah Clark. In the second, freshman Madison Kilcrease scored on David's RBI single after walking and getting into scoring position on a Taryn Arcarese sacrifice. Arcarese also added a single later in the game.
The big blow came in the third inning, though, when Clark and Jaelyn Manzanares walked, and came around to score on Wikre's seventh blast of the season.
"I was really happy for Wik," Fisher said. "Savannah looked good today, and I was happy to see our power hitters have a big day and get some extension through the ball."
CSU would be held off the board for the remainder of the contest, but always applied pressure. Following Wikre's home run in the third, the Rams loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch - which forced UNC's starter out of the game - but despite having the bases loaded with one out, couldn't score thanks to a nice double play. It was similar in the fifth inning when the Rams again had the bases loaded, but UNC again recorded an inning-ending double play, getting a flyout and then gunning down Kilcrease at the plate to end the frame.
Six different Rams recorded hits in the win, and five players got on base at least twice. Kilcrease walked in all three of her plate appearances.
After beginning the month of March with 11-consecutive victories, CSU had dropped four games in a row prior to Wednesday's win. The victory gives CSU some momentum heading into a much-needed weekend off before the team closes out the final stretch of its season against seven conference opponents.
"We've had our pedal to the metal the past two months," Fisher said. "We're tired; not to make excuses, but we've been on the road five of the seven weeks, and that's rough. Now we have our feet under us, we can get a little rest and try to gain some confidence going into conference."
Harrington set down the Bears (5-17) in order through the first three innings, and didn't allow a hit until the fifth. Even then, she allowed just two hits in the entire game. Over her past two starts, she has thrown two complete-game shutouts, allowing a combined zero runs, five hits, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
"Trinity was dealing," Head Coach Jen Fisher said. "She was mowing them down, and I really like her attitude in the circle. It's that `go for it' attitude, and I think we need more of that. I like what she's brought to this team as a freshman."
While Harrington was near-perfect in the circle, CSU's offense lit up UNC with two runs in the first, one in the second and three more in the third courtesy of a Danielle Wikre home run. In addition to CSU's six hits, the Rams (19-16) walked nine times, were hit by one pitch and recorded a sacrifice bunt.
"I think it felt good for them to just swing the bat," Fisher said. "Larry Walker used to take a game off when the Rockies were facing Randy Johnson because he would just get in your head, and I think it was similar this past weekend with Fresno State. (Jill) Compton was so tough, it was nice to be able to just come out and swing the bat with some confidence today."
The Rams' first two runs came four batters into their lineup, with senior Haley David recording a one-out walk and stealing second. Senior Shae Rodriguez doubled to right-center, setting up a two-run double for freshman Savannah Clark. In the second, freshman Madison Kilcrease scored on David's RBI single after walking and getting into scoring position on a Taryn Arcarese sacrifice. Arcarese also added a single later in the game.
The big blow came in the third inning, though, when Clark and Jaelyn Manzanares walked, and came around to score on Wikre's seventh blast of the season.
"I was really happy for Wik," Fisher said. "Savannah looked good today, and I was happy to see our power hitters have a big day and get some extension through the ball."
CSU would be held off the board for the remainder of the contest, but always applied pressure. Following Wikre's home run in the third, the Rams loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch - which forced UNC's starter out of the game - but despite having the bases loaded with one out, couldn't score thanks to a nice double play. It was similar in the fifth inning when the Rams again had the bases loaded, but UNC again recorded an inning-ending double play, getting a flyout and then gunning down Kilcrease at the plate to end the frame.
Six different Rams recorded hits in the win, and five players got on base at least twice. Kilcrease walked in all three of her plate appearances.
After beginning the month of March with 11-consecutive victories, CSU had dropped four games in a row prior to Wednesday's win. The victory gives CSU some momentum heading into a much-needed weekend off before the team closes out the final stretch of its season against seven conference opponents.
"We've had our pedal to the metal the past two months," Fisher said. "We're tired; not to make excuses, but we've been on the road five of the seven weeks, and that's rough. Now we have our feet under us, we can get a little rest and try to gain some confidence going into conference."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harrington, Trinity (3-2)
L: KLEIS (1-7)
Base Running:
SB: MARCOVECCHIO 1
HBP: DICK 1
Batting:
2B: Rodriguez, Shae 1 ; Clark, Savannah 1
HR: Wikre, Danielle 1
RBI: David, Haley 1 ; Clark, Savannah 2 ; Wikre, Danielle 3
SH: Arcarese, Taryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: David, Haley 1 ; Rodriguez, Shae 1 ; Clark, Savannah 1 ; Manzanares, Jaelyn 1 ; Wikre, Danielle 1 ; Kilcrease, Madison 1
SB: David, Haley 1
HBP: Arcarese, Taryn 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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Colorado State Softball: Highlights vs. San Jose State Game Two
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RamWire: Coach Fisher One-On-One
Tuesday, May 14