Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
5-10
Loyola Marymount
8-6
CSU grabs wins over LIU, LMU on Sunday
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - After a tough first three games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, the Colorado State Rams softball team picked up a pair of wins on Sunday.
The Rams (5-10) picked up their first two wins of the tournament, and will return to Fort Collins to play their home opener against Northern Colorado on Tuesday at 4 p.m. MT at Ram Field.
Colorado State - 12
LIU Brooklyn - 0
The Rams got off to a quick start offensively and pitcher Holly Reinke allowed only two hits as they beat LIU Brooklyn, 12-0, in their first game Sunday.
CSU scored three runs in the first inning, with Savannah Clark singling home Haley Hutton to get things going for the Rams. Lauren Buchanan then doubled down the left field line, scoring both Taryn Arcarese and Kristina Akiona.
The Rams scored twice in the top of the second to extend their lead. Hutton scored her second run of the game, going from second to home on a single by Madison Kilcrease. Kilcrease then advanced to second after Arcarese was hit by a pitch, and Akiona singled to send her home.
Reinke provided her own run support with a two-run home run to left field, scoring herself and Maci Stouffer.
The Rams held the 7-0 lead into the top of the seventh, before an offensive explosion to close the game. CSU scored five runs in the final frame, including Hutton's third run of the game.
Reinke allowed only four baserunners all game and struck out four in her second complete game shutout of the season.
Colorado State - 4
Loyola Marymount - 3
CSU's offense kept rolling to start against Loyola Marymount, and strong pitching down the stretch pushed the Rams to a 4-3 victory over the Lions on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams gained a quick 1-0 lead, taking advantage of a LMU errors. Haley Hutton was hit by a pitch to lead off, and stole second base during the next at bat. With two outs, Hutton advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on passed ball.
Maci Stouffer hit a timely three-run home run in the top of the second, which would prove to be a game-winning at bat. Kirsten Kauk and Sierra Galbreath would score on the play, and CSU held a 4-0 edge until the fifth inning.
LMU scored three runs over the fifth and sixth innings, including a pinch-hit solo homer in the bottom of the fifth.
Larisa Petakoff put together a solid performance in the circle all game long for the Rams, and closed the game out in the bottom of the seventh. The Lions tallied a two-out single to stay alive, but Petakoff forced a ground ball in the next at bat to secure the 4-3 win for CSU.
IN THEIR WORDS…
"We hit the ball really well. We got runners on base in the first inning, and that helped. They had some miscues as well, and we made those count with some good hits. Holly (Reinke) pitched a great game and we played great defense." - Head Coach Jen Fisher on CSU's dominating 12-0 win over LIU Brooklyn
"I liked Larisa's composure. She pitched a really good game, and she really wanted to close it out. She stayed composed and didn't overwork it. I would've liked some more run support for her, and their pitcher finished really strong after giving up the four runs to us early." - Fisher on Larisa Petakoff's solid pitching outing
"They always feel really good being at home. We are historically very good at home, and they want to keep that going. They've been road warriors to begin this season and have missed multiple Fridays from school. They'll be excited to play in front of our fans at home." - Fisher on her team returning home to play at Ram Field for the first time this season
NOTES…
- Haley Hutton scored four runs in the two wins on Sunday, and leads the Rams with 11 runs scored on the season.
- The 12-0 win over LIU Brooklyn is the Rams' largest margin of victory since defeating UTEP 14-0 in five innings on April 5, 2014 in Fort Collins.
- Freshman Lauren Buchanan now leads the Rams in RBI's with nine.
- CSU scored five runs in the top of the seventh against LIU Brooklyn. Entering Sunday, CSU had only scored one run in a seventh inning all season.
- Holly Reinke's complete game shutout against LIU Brooklyn was her second of the season, and her season ERA is now down to 2.83.
- Maci Stouffer's three-run home run against LMU not only proved to be a game-winner, but was also her first career homer. Stouffer became the sixth different CSU player to hit a home run this season.
NEXT…
CSU will return to Ram Field to host Northern Colorado in the team's home opener on Tuesday at 4 p.m. MT. Admission is free. CSU will then host its annual Colorado State Classic, with Nebraska-Omaha and Idaho State coming to town on March 5-6.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Reinke, Holly (0-0)
L: WOODSON (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Buchanan, Lauren 1
HR: Reinke, Holly 1
RBI: Kilcrease, Madison 1 ; Navarrete, Monica 1 ; Akiona, Kristina 2 ; Clark, Savannah 1 ; Buchanan, Lauren 4 ; Reinke, Holly 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hutton, Haley 3 ; Kilcrease, Madison 2 ; Arcarese, Taryn 1 ; Navarrete, Monica 1 ; Akiona, Kristina 2 ; Stouffer, Maci 2 ; Reinke, Holly 1
CS: Kilcrease, Madison 1
HBP: Arcarese, Taryn 1 ; Stouffer, Maci 1
