Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, March 26
Fort Collins, CO
1:00 PM
Colorado State
10-16, 2-3
7
vs
6
San Jose State
16-12, 2-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
San Jose State
0
0
3
0
0
1
2
6
7
1
Colorado State
0
1
0
1
0
4
1
7
10
1
Rams Rally Twice to Grab Win Over SJSU
3/26/2022 4:41:00 PM | Softball
York delivers walk-off single in seventh
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After an early spring of near misses, the callouses are starting to build up.
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They have this particular series for Colorado State's softball team, which has had to rally on back-to-back days to post Mountain West victories over San Jose State at Ram Field. Saturday, the hosts had to do it twice, giving up a two-run lead in the top of the seventh, only to return the favor for a 7-6 decision.
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Better late than never for Jen Fisher and her group, which at 10-16 on the season has already lost six games by one run, another four by two. Getting the clutch whatever in crunch time had been evasive prior to this weekend.
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"We've been talking all season – why not us and we've got this. Like the coaches were talking about, today especially, when one person fell, another person picked them up," Kaitlyn Cook said. "It was an overall team win, and that's going to help us in the long run."
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The Rams rallied for a 6-4 win on Friday to start the three-game set and found themselves playing from behind once again on Saturday after the Spartans (16-12, 2-3) scored three runs in the top of the third, an error helping the cause.
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It wasn't until a four-run outburst by CSU in the sixth they were on the positive side, and it came thanks to a big two-out single by Hailey Smith, one of three hits for the right fielder on the day.
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"Especially in the beginning. We were struggling with these types of ball games," Smith said. "I think those taught us a lot, to never give up. This shows you don't give up, you keep going and you keep fighting.
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"I think this rallies everybody, getting pumped and ready. It makes everybody believe that no matter what, we're going to win this game. Even when we're down, we're going to come back. We're fighters, were going to get those hits – those timely hits that matter – and just have confidence in ourselves."
Â
It had been an odd day of sorts for Colorado State, who had outhit their foes for most of the day, even had more baserunners, but yet couldn't deliver the big blow. Thus, they trailed on the scoreboard despite having traffic on the bases.
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They were also pretty adept at taking extra bases on hits, as well as getting steals from Smith and Ashley York. Like most of the year, they were stuck in traffic, not getting home.
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Giving up two runs to allow the Spartans to tie the game in the seventh was a bit demoralizing but didn't prove to be a dealbreaker. This weekend, the Rams have been different. Tougher, more resilient and Cook had the perfect answer to lead off the CSU half of the stanza, ripping a double to not only start a rally, but put a runner immediately into scoring position.
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"Right before that inning, we talked to each other and said we're passing the bat," Cook said. "I didn't feel pressure. I knew whoever was behind me had my back, and it was really about finding anyway on – base hit, double, triple, anyway. It was nice to hit a double, though.
Â
"Our energy today was amazing. Rally caps all the time, and I think we just felt the presence of each person. Anyone could make the difference."
Â
Not that there wasn't some drama. A sacrifice attempt was popped up, followed by another fly ball. York delivered the good news via a sharp grounder through the box, sending Rams out of the dugout before Cook had crossed the plate.
Â
A nice 10-0, five-inning win would be nice, but the way Colorado State has won these past two games can be rather beneficial in the long run from Fisher's estimation.
Â
Cook was the only other Ram with multiple hits on the day, providing two. They finished with 10 total, and for a team with a batting average around .280, getting hits hasn't always been the issue. Getting the big hit has. This weekend, the team has started to build a reel of success stories to look back upon.
Â
"I think definitely in this game you have to see yourself doing it," Fisher said. "You need those moments to fall back on; that's your highlight reel to keep replaying. That certainly helps. That's going to be big for Hailey and Kaitlyn, and Jalyn McGuffin came up bit twice."
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The two teams close out the Mountain West set Sunday at Ram Field, first pitch scheduled at 12 p.m. They will be seeking their first conference sweep since doing it against San Jose State on the road to close out the 2021 regular season.
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They have this particular series for Colorado State's softball team, which has had to rally on back-to-back days to post Mountain West victories over San Jose State at Ram Field. Saturday, the hosts had to do it twice, giving up a two-run lead in the top of the seventh, only to return the favor for a 7-6 decision.
Â
Better late than never for Jen Fisher and her group, which at 10-16 on the season has already lost six games by one run, another four by two. Getting the clutch whatever in crunch time had been evasive prior to this weekend.
Â
"We've been talking all season – why not us and we've got this. Like the coaches were talking about, today especially, when one person fell, another person picked them up," Kaitlyn Cook said. "It was an overall team win, and that's going to help us in the long run."
Â
The Rams rallied for a 6-4 win on Friday to start the three-game set and found themselves playing from behind once again on Saturday after the Spartans (16-12, 2-3) scored three runs in the top of the third, an error helping the cause.
Â
It wasn't until a four-run outburst by CSU in the sixth they were on the positive side, and it came thanks to a big two-out single by Hailey Smith, one of three hits for the right fielder on the day.
Â
"Especially in the beginning. We were struggling with these types of ball games," Smith said. "I think those taught us a lot, to never give up. This shows you don't give up, you keep going and you keep fighting.
Â
"I think this rallies everybody, getting pumped and ready. It makes everybody believe that no matter what, we're going to win this game. Even when we're down, we're going to come back. We're fighters, were going to get those hits – those timely hits that matter – and just have confidence in ourselves."
Â
It had been an odd day of sorts for Colorado State, who had outhit their foes for most of the day, even had more baserunners, but yet couldn't deliver the big blow. Thus, they trailed on the scoreboard despite having traffic on the bases.
Â
They were also pretty adept at taking extra bases on hits, as well as getting steals from Smith and Ashley York. Like most of the year, they were stuck in traffic, not getting home.
Â
Giving up two runs to allow the Spartans to tie the game in the seventh was a bit demoralizing but didn't prove to be a dealbreaker. This weekend, the Rams have been different. Tougher, more resilient and Cook had the perfect answer to lead off the CSU half of the stanza, ripping a double to not only start a rally, but put a runner immediately into scoring position.
Â
"Right before that inning, we talked to each other and said we're passing the bat," Cook said. "I didn't feel pressure. I knew whoever was behind me had my back, and it was really about finding anyway on – base hit, double, triple, anyway. It was nice to hit a double, though.
Â
"Our energy today was amazing. Rally caps all the time, and I think we just felt the presence of each person. Anyone could make the difference."
Â
Not that there wasn't some drama. A sacrifice attempt was popped up, followed by another fly ball. York delivered the good news via a sharp grounder through the box, sending Rams out of the dugout before Cook had crossed the plate.
Â
A nice 10-0, five-inning win would be nice, but the way Colorado State has won these past two games can be rather beneficial in the long run from Fisher's estimation.
Â
Cook was the only other Ram with multiple hits on the day, providing two. They finished with 10 total, and for a team with a batting average around .280, getting hits hasn't always been the issue. Getting the big hit has. This weekend, the team has started to build a reel of success stories to look back upon.
Â
"I think definitely in this game you have to see yourself doing it," Fisher said. "You need those moments to fall back on; that's your highlight reel to keep replaying. That certainly helps. That's going to be big for Hailey and Kaitlyn, and Jalyn McGuffin came up bit twice."
Â
The two teams close out the Mountain West set Sunday at Ram Field, first pitch scheduled at 12 p.m. They will be seeking their first conference sweep since doing it against San Jose State on the road to close out the 2021 regular season.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hornbuckle, Sydney (2-7)
L: Ullegue, Jenessa (11-3)
Batting:
2B: Bergesen, Karizma 1 ; Vidal, Jocylyn 1
RBI: Ullegue, Jenessa 1 ; Bergesen, Karizma 1 ; Rico, Ashley 1 ; Figueroa, Jillian 2 ; Giacoma, Jessica 1
SH: Edwards, Trenity 1
SF: Figueroa, Jillian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Graham, Alyssa 1 ; Ullegue, Jenessa 2 ; Figueroa, Jillian 1 ; Vidal, Jocylyn 1 ; Squires, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Cook, Kaitlyn 1
RBI: Michelena, Ashley 1 ; York, Ashley 1 ; Allen, Peyton 1 ; Smith, Hailey 2 ; Matsubara, Maya 1 ; McGuffin, Jalyn 1
SF: Matsubara, Maya 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Michelena, Ashley 1 ; York, Ashley 1 ; Allen, Peyton 1 ; McVay, Makenna 2 ; Cook, Kaitlyn 1 ; West, Jordan 1
SB: York, Ashley 1 ; Smith, Hailey 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF
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RamWire: Coach Fisher One-On-One
Tuesday, May 14