Preview: Rams Host Colorado State Classic

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COLORADO STATE CLASSIC
Game 1: Rams vs. Utah Valley
Friday, March 9 | 1:30 pm

Game 2: Rams vs. St. John's
Friday, March 9 | 3:45 pm

Game 3: Rams vs. St. John's
Saturday, March 10 | 1:30 pm | MW Network

Game 4: Rams vs. Idaho State
Saturday, March 10 | 3:45 pm | MW Network

Game 5: Rams vs. Idaho State
Sunday, March 11 | 11:15 am | MW Network

ON DECK
Colorado State continues non-conference action this week, hosting the Colorado State Classic. The Rams will look to rebound after dropping the last five games at the San Diego Classic last weekend. The Rams started the season 8-1 - their best start since 2008, before struggling at the San Diego Classic

The Rams will begin the five-game tournament with a game against Utah Valley on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., and versus St. John's at 3:45 p.m. Colorado State will play two games on Saturday, starting with St. John's at 1:30 p.m., and Idaho State at 3:45 p.m. The Rams will finish the tournament on Sunday morning playing Idaho State at 11:15 a.m.

OPPONENT SCOUT
The Wolverines: Utah Valley (4-8) will play in its third tournament of the season. UVU started the season in Las Vegas, earning a victory over Southern Utah at the Sportco Kick Off Classic. The Wolverines then played in the Red Desert Classic, defeating MW foe, Boise State before recording another victory over Southern Utah. Utah Valley has played/or will play, several opponents that the Rams will/have, including losing to Minnesota to start the season. The Wolverines also have played UNLV and Boise State.

Basia Query has started all 12 games the Wolverines and is second on the team with a .368 batting average. She also leads the team with 14 hits and three doubles. Addie Jensen paces Utah Valley from the circle with a 2.39 ERA and a 3-4 record. She has hurled four complete games and 44 innings.

The Red Storm: St. John's (4-12) posted a 1-2 record last weekend at the Towson Tournament after the first two games were canceled. The Red Storm began the season with a 2-3 record at the FIU Felsberg Invite, before dropping six games at the Mary Nutter Classic. St. John's faced three ranked teams over the Mary Nutter, including Arizona - who CSU played earlier this season.

Christina Melendez leads the Red Storm with a .408 batting average with 20 hits and four doubles. Krystal Puga follows with a .722 slugging mark with 19 hits, including 17 RBI and six homers. Lauren Zick is speedy around the bases, going 8-for-8 in stolen bases. Madison Morris has started nine games in the circle, carrying a 4.53 ERA.

The Bengals: Idaho State (0-10) is looking for its first victory of the season. The Bengals have been run-ruled in half of their losses. ISU started the season at the Desert Classic, losing to MW foes, San Jose State and UNLV. The Bengals followed at the UTEP Tournament, suffering defeats from New Mexico State and Texas at El Paso.

Makenzie VanSickle powers the Bengals with a .400 batting average and has 10 hits. Emma Bordenkecher follows with a .355 batting mark and slugging .677, including 11 hits, two doubles, a triple and two homers. Mariah Mulcahy has appeared in the most games in the circle, carrying a 9.96 ERA.

LAST TIME OUT
Colorado State struggled last weekend at the San Diego Classic, dropping five straight games. The Rams went to eight innings against Oregon State, but a late miscue made the difference. CSU also was neck-and-neck with No. 20 Minnesota, but a late rally by the Gophers was too much.

RAMS IN NON-LEAGUE PLAY
CSU holds an 8-6 record against non-conference competition heading into its final non-conference weekend. Last year, the Rams posted a 19-7 mark against non-conference competition. That included a 10-3 record across the team's three home tournaments at Ram Field. It also included six wins against teams from the Big Ten or Big 12.

HUTTON NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Junior Bridgette Hutton was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 21. Hutton was the first CSU softball player to earn a weekly award from the conference this season. The honor was also the second of her career. The psychology major posted a 2-1 record at the Hillenbrand Invitational, including hurling two complete games and the first shutout of the season with a 5-0 win over Tory. The Platteville, Colo., native allowed just four runs in the three games she appeared in, posting a 1.56 ERA.

TRANSFERS MAKING A MARK
Transfer Sarah Muzik is making her mark for the Rams as the junior leads the team with a .469 batting average and .531 slugging mark, while carrying a .536 on base tick. The Hawai'i transfer also has recorded a team-best 23 hits and is 4-for-4 in stolen bases.

PETAKOFF'S PITCHING PROWESS
Redshirt senior Larisa Petakoff is off to a great start, holding the team's best ERA at 0.53 across 13.1 innings pitched. She has appeared in six games and allowed just 10 hits and one earned run. She also has earned the teams only save, coming against Montana at the Hillenbrand Invite in Arizona.

GAMBOA HEATING UP AT THE HOT CORNER
Sophomore Corina Gamboa has established herself as a threat at third base. So far this season, Gamboa posted eight RBI with three home runs. She is currently third on the team with a .381 batting average and leads the team slugging .643.

COLORADO STATE CLASSIC HISTORY
The Rams have hosted the Colorado State Classic the last eight season. Colorado State is 26-12 in the tournament, dating back to 2010. Last season, CSU defeated Penn State twice during the tournament and rolled to short game wins against Buffalo and Idaho State.

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