Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
0-2
#7 UCLA
1-0
Rams drop pair of games to open 2016
2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CSU-Wichita State - box score
CSU-UCLA - box score
Season Stats
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Colorado State Rams softball squad opened the 2016 season with a double-header on Friday at the Aggie Classic hosted by Texas A&M. The Rams fell to Wichita State, 3-0, in the first game, and nearly upset No. 7 UCLA in the second game, losing 6-5.
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| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Wichita State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | |
| Colorado State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
The Shockers took an early 1-0 lead after Brittany Fortner doubled off CSU pitcher Holly Reinke and then came home after a triple by Paige Luellen, all coming with two outs in the top of the first. CSU shortstop Haley Hutton tallied a single and then stole second in the bottom of the first, but was not able to come around to score.
Wichita State would add individual runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead to 3-0. The Rams would get a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the fifth after both Maci Stouffer and Hutton walked, but both were left on base.
Kristina Akiona came in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh as the Rams tried to mount a comeback, and reached base off an infield error by the Shockers. Stouffer struck out in the following at-bat, however, clinching the win for Wichita State.
In all, the Rams recorded just a pair of hits against the Shockers, with Reinke throwing a complete game, allowing three runs on five hits.
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| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Colorado State | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| #7 UCLA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
The Rams would not hesitate in trying to ramp up the offense in their second game of the day, jumping out to a 3-0 lead over the seventh-ranked UCLA Bruins in the top of the second inning.
Hannah McCorkhill and Kristina Akiona each walked, and then Jaelyn Manzanares loaded the bases after she got to first on a fielder's choice after a sacrifice bunt attempt. Amber Nelson singled up the middle to score McCorkhill, and then a double from Taryn Arcarese scored both Akiona and Manzanares to give CSU a three-run cushion.
UCLA put one run on the board in the bottom of the fourth, but CSU responded in the top of the fifth after Savannah Clark reached base on a throwing error and McCorkhill walked. Kristen Kauk came in as a pinch runner for Clark, and then Akiona was hit by a pitch, loading the bases once again for the Rams. Manzanares singled to left field, scoring Kauk in the process.
The Bruins would storm back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five runs. Starting CSU pitcher Larisa Petakoff would be relieved by Bridgette Hutton midway through the frame, but UCLA would leave the fifth inning up 6-4. The Rams would immediately answer back with one run in the top of the sixth with sound base running after a passed ball by UCLA. Haley Hutton would end up at third base, and Clark singled to left field to score Hutton and cut the Bruins' lead to 6-5.
In the Rams' last chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh, Akiona reached base after being hit by a pitch. Akiona was replaced by Sierra Galbreath as a pinch runner, who promptly advanced to second after another UCLA wild pitch. With one out and Galbreath in scoring position, Nelson struck out and Arcarese popped up to shortstop to seal the win for the Bruins.
NOTES…
- Several Rams made their collegiate debuts on Friday - Sierra Galbreath, Amber Nelson, Kirsten Kauk and Lauren Buchanan.
- Senior transfer Kristina Akiona made her CSU debut, including starting as the team's designated player against UCLA.
- Junior Haley Hutton tallied another walk against Wichita State, giving her 69 for her career. In just over two seasons of play, Hutton finds herself only six walks away from entering the career top-five in the category at CSU.
- 13 players played across the two games on Friday for the Rams, with six starting both - Hutton (shortstop), Madison Kilcrease (center field), Savannah Clark (third base), Jaelyn Manzanares (catcher), Taryn Arcarese (second base) and Lauren Buchanan (designated player, left field)
NEXT…
The Rams will play Wichita State again tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. CT/9 a.m. MT, followed by a meeting with host Texas A&M at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT. The game against the Aggies will be broadcast live on the SEC Network and streamed live.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ta'amilo (1-0)
L: Hutton, Bridgette (0-1)
S: Grauer (1)
Batting:
2B: Arcarese, Taryn 1
RBI: Clark, Savannah 1 ; Manzanares, Jaelyn 1 ; Nelson, Amber 1 ; Arcarese, Taryn 2
SH: Manzanares, Jaelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hutton, Haley 1 ; Kauk, Kirsten 1 ; McCorkhill, Hannah 1 ; Akiona, Kristina 1 ; Manzanares, Jaelyn 1
CS: Hutton, Haley 1
HBP: Akiona, Kristina 2
Batting:
2B: Spaulding 1 ; Jelenicki 1
3B: Shaw 1
RBI: Jelenicki 2 ; Shaw 1
SF: Jelenicki 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bennett 1 ; Perez 1 ; Spaulding 2 ; Johnson 1 ; Shaw 1
SB: Bennett 1 ; Spaulding 1 ; Maurice 1
CS: Bennett 1
HBP: Bennett 1
