Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, February 11
Las Cruces, NM
11:00 AM
Colorado State
11
vs
1
Bradley
Allen Hits Two Three-Run Home Runs in Big Day for Rams’ Offense
2/11/2023 8:59:00 PM | Softball
Colorado State run-rules Bradley before beating New Mexico State in Las Cruces
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Day two of the Colorado State softball season was a hitting clinic for Head Coach Jen Fisher's Rams as they run-ruled Bradley in a 11-1, five-inning win before taking down host team New Mexico State under the lights in Las Cruces, 4-2.
Totaling 17 hits on the day including five home runs through two games, the Rams' bats were too hot to handle Saturday afternoon. Peyton Allen led Colorado State's offense with a three-run home run in both matchups, with her home run against New Mexico State coming in a clutch, go-ahead at bat in the sixth inning against the Aggies.
"Peyton's battle at the plate leading up to the home run, was just flat out gritty," Fisher said. "She's one of the team leaders in so many ways and for her to come through for her team, well it's a night I do t think we will ever forget."
The first inning has been kind to the Rams since arriving in Las Cruces and game one versus Bradley started out no different. A double to the right side of the field from Danielle Serna got the scoring started for Colorado State and it was all Rams after that, scoring four runs in the opening frame.
Taking a 4-1 lead into the third inning, fifth year senior Kaitlyn Cook crushed her first home run of the season over the left-center wall. In the very next inning, Allen would hit her first three-run shot of the day followed by the birthday girl, junior Hailey Smith hitting her first home run of the season later that inning.
Already leading by enough to seal the run-rule victory, the Rams added one more run in the fifth inning off the bat of Allen before freshman pitcher Delaney Saugstad sealed the win in the circle during the bottom of the fifth inning. Saugstad making her first career start for CSU and went all five innings, only allowing one earned run with five strikeouts.
"To see Delaney get a complete game, well that was just a huge accomplishment for an outstanding young Ram," Fisher said. "Pitching Coach, Sahvanna Jaquish and I are just really happy with the competitiveness we are getting out of our two Freshmen. The team really believes in both of them."
Game two of the day for the Rams was a vengeance game from yesterday's opening day loss to New Mexico State. Saturday night's matchup with the Aggies started as a true pitchers' duel with junior Sydney Hornbuckle going at it with Emily Dix of New Mexico State. Both pitchers threw a scoreless game through four innings before the Aggies broke the 0-0 tie with a run in the fifth inning.
Returning to the plate in the top of the sixth, the Rams were ready for their third time through the lineup against Dix with the top of the order coming up big for Colorado State.
Hornbuckle started the inning helping her own cause drawing a leadoff walk before getting pinch ran for by Morgan Coleman. A single from Molly Gates and a sacrifice bunt by Ashley York put Rams at second and third with only one out. In need of capitalizing on at least one run to tie the game, Allen made her eight-pitch at bat worth it by going yard to make the score 3-1, Rams. In Colorado State's next at bat, Serna sent another ball over the fence, her first of the season, to put the lead at three runs.
"The little things were what set [the comeback] up though," Fisher said. "A lead off walk by Sydney, a great base running decision by Coleman, and a nice sacrifice by York, all led to that situation. I was just so happy for them."
Now with the lead, Fisher made the call to the bullpen to finish out the rest of the game in the circle with Jetta Nannen pitching the sixth and Serna getting the save in the seventh.
The Rams move to 3-1 on the season with their Las Cruces finale taking place Sunday morning with their third matchup against Bradley. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. from the New Mexico State Softball Complex.
Totaling 17 hits on the day including five home runs through two games, the Rams' bats were too hot to handle Saturday afternoon. Peyton Allen led Colorado State's offense with a three-run home run in both matchups, with her home run against New Mexico State coming in a clutch, go-ahead at bat in the sixth inning against the Aggies.
"Peyton's battle at the plate leading up to the home run, was just flat out gritty," Fisher said. "She's one of the team leaders in so many ways and for her to come through for her team, well it's a night I do t think we will ever forget."
The first inning has been kind to the Rams since arriving in Las Cruces and game one versus Bradley started out no different. A double to the right side of the field from Danielle Serna got the scoring started for Colorado State and it was all Rams after that, scoring four runs in the opening frame.
Taking a 4-1 lead into the third inning, fifth year senior Kaitlyn Cook crushed her first home run of the season over the left-center wall. In the very next inning, Allen would hit her first three-run shot of the day followed by the birthday girl, junior Hailey Smith hitting her first home run of the season later that inning.
Already leading by enough to seal the run-rule victory, the Rams added one more run in the fifth inning off the bat of Allen before freshman pitcher Delaney Saugstad sealed the win in the circle during the bottom of the fifth inning. Saugstad making her first career start for CSU and went all five innings, only allowing one earned run with five strikeouts.
"To see Delaney get a complete game, well that was just a huge accomplishment for an outstanding young Ram," Fisher said. "Pitching Coach, Sahvanna Jaquish and I are just really happy with the competitiveness we are getting out of our two Freshmen. The team really believes in both of them."
Game two of the day for the Rams was a vengeance game from yesterday's opening day loss to New Mexico State. Saturday night's matchup with the Aggies started as a true pitchers' duel with junior Sydney Hornbuckle going at it with Emily Dix of New Mexico State. Both pitchers threw a scoreless game through four innings before the Aggies broke the 0-0 tie with a run in the fifth inning.
Returning to the plate in the top of the sixth, the Rams were ready for their third time through the lineup against Dix with the top of the order coming up big for Colorado State.
Hornbuckle started the inning helping her own cause drawing a leadoff walk before getting pinch ran for by Morgan Coleman. A single from Molly Gates and a sacrifice bunt by Ashley York put Rams at second and third with only one out. In need of capitalizing on at least one run to tie the game, Allen made her eight-pitch at bat worth it by going yard to make the score 3-1, Rams. In Colorado State's next at bat, Serna sent another ball over the fence, her first of the season, to put the lead at three runs.
"The little things were what set [the comeback] up though," Fisher said. "A lead off walk by Sydney, a great base running decision by Coleman, and a nice sacrifice by York, all led to that situation. I was just so happy for them."
Now with the lead, Fisher made the call to the bullpen to finish out the rest of the game in the circle with Jetta Nannen pitching the sixth and Serna getting the save in the seventh.
The Rams move to 3-1 on the season with their Las Cruces finale taking place Sunday morning with their third matchup against Bradley. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. from the New Mexico State Softball Complex.
Players Mentioned
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