Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
25-26, 0
UNLV
23-27, 0
Softball recap: Rams shut out Rebels in series opener
5/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Colorado State softball team began its final home series of the season on Friday, and did so with one of the team's most well-grounded games. CSU shut out UNLV, 3-0, at Ram Field. Freshman Trinity Harrington earned her fourth complete-game shutout of the season, striking out three in the victory.
"I thought it was a well-played game by both sides," Head Coach Jen Fisher said. "We came up with the clutch hits when we needed them, which I feel so proud of them for because we've been working on that all year."
CSU's three runs were scored in consecutive innings. After going down in order in the first two innings, the Rams (25-26, 6-13 MW) got on the board in the third when junior Jaelyn Manzanares doubled to lead off the inning, and scored three batters later when sophomore Haley Hutton singled to left.
In the fourth, the Rams again led off the inning with a double, this time coming from freshman Savannah Clark. Danni Klein pinch ran for Clark, and she scored when senior Taylor Hutton doubled to center. The two runs would be more than enough for Harrington and CSU's defense, but the Rams tacked on one more run in the fifth. Following a Haley Hutton bunt single and Haley David walk, Clark was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, senior Danielle Wikre drew the team's third free pass of the inning, bringing in Haley Hutton.
Up until the sixth, UNLV (23-27, 9-10 MW) had reached base just twice -- back-to-back hits in the second inning. The Rebels got on two more times in the sixth, via a single and a walk, but despite threatening with runners on the bases, CSU turned a beautiful 4-6-3 inning-ending double play to end the threat.
"Haley is an incredible player and I love how she and Taryn (Arcarese) play together," Fisher said. "It's neat to see when kids are in the same class; there's a tightness there. They work up the middle all the time, and it's just so exciting to see that from them. They do that all day, every day in practice and they work so hard at it. When it comes together like that, it feels really good."
Harrington (5-4) earned the victory, tossing her sixth complete game. She allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out three. Haley Hutton had two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Manzanares also added two hits and a run.
"With one walk, Trinity just really threw a great game," Fisher said. "For Trinity to come out and throw a shutout against that team is big for her. That's where she's matured and has been challenging all year. For us to give her the start, she earned it and delivered on it which is exciting to see."
The Rams return to the field on Saturday for the second game of the series against UNLV. The game starts at 1 p.m. MT and admission to Ram Field is free to all fans. It can be streamed for free through the Mountain West Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harrington, Trinity (5-4)
L: PETMECKY, J. (3-9)
Batting:
2B: ILI, M. 1
Batting:
2B: Clark, Savannah 1 ; Hutton, Taylor 1 ; Manzanares, Jaelyn 1
RBI: Hutton, Haley 1 ; Wikre, Danielle 1 ; Hutton, Taylor 1
SH: Arcarese, Taryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hutton, Haley 1 ; Klein, Danni 1 ; Manzanares, Jaelyn 1
HBP: Clark, Savannah 1
