Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
14-7
Abilene Christian
6-20
Rams Sweep Wildcats in Phoenix Finale
3/12/2023 4:24:00 PM | Softball
Colorado State tops Abilene Christian at GCU Invitational 8-7
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Two high scoring innings was the difference maker for the Rams in their Phoenix finale. The Wildcats jumped out to an early five run lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Colorado State was quick to respond on the offensive end in the top of the second.
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Fifth year senior Kaitlyn Cook got the rally started for the Rams in the second inning with a one out double to right center. Carolina Buffaloe would put the Rams on the board in her next at bat with another double down the left field line. Sophomore Morgan Crosby then cleared the bases for the Rams with a triple to right field.
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Still with only one out, the top of the order in Molly Gates for Colorado State came up to the plate. Gates reached on an infield single, scoring Crosby to put the Rams' deficit at just one. A Peyton Allen walk followed by an Ashley York single loaded the bases up for Maya Matsubara, now with two outs and an opportunity to take the lead. Matsubara did just that as she singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Gates and Allen to take a 6-5 CSU lead into the bottom of the third inning.
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With both teams scoreless through the third, fourth and fifth inning, the Rams added two more insurance runs onto the board that they would eventually need down the stretch. Once again, it was the top of the order producing runs for Colorado State with Gates singling to lead off the inning and York hitting a home run to right field to extend the lead.
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The Wildcats would respond with two more runs of their own in the bottom of sixth, but that is where ACU's comeback would come to an end as Head Coach Jen Fisher entered her go to closer, Danielle Serna into the circle for the final inning of play.
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Serna would get the save in an 8-7 Rams victory with Sydney Hornbuckle taking the win in the circle. Hornbuckle through five innings while only allowing four hits in 22 batters faced with five strikeouts.
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The Rams will return to Fort Collins with a 14-7 record as they close out their non-conference tournament schedule and set their sites on their home opener and the beginning of the conference season when they will face San Diego State at the new and improved Ram Field Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hornbuckle, Sydney (6-3)
L: White, Riley (2-8)
S: Serna, Danielle (1)
Batting:
2B: Cook, Kaitlyn 1 ; Buffaloe, Carolina 1
3B: Crosby, Morgan 1
HR: York, Ashley 1
RBI: Gates, Molly 1 ; York, Ashley 2 ; Matsubara, Maya 2 ; Buffaloe, Carolina 1 ; Crosby, Morgan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gates, Molly 2 ; Allen, Peyton 1 ; York, Ashley 1 ; Cook, Kaitlyn 1 ; Bohlender, Brooke 1 ; Buffaloe, Carolina 1 ; Crosby, Morgan 1
Batting:
2B: Eichelberger, Sadie 1 ; Miloch, Avery 1 ; Taylor, Olivia 1
RBI: Eichelberger, Sadie 1 ; Hoffman, Catrin 1 ; Taylor, Olivia 2 ; Gaspar, Logan 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Eichelberger, Sadie 2 ; Miloch, Avery 1 ; Shelander, Sammie 1 ; Taylor, Olivia 1 ; Clark, Mckenley 1 ; Gaspar, Logan 1
SB: Gaspar, Logan 1
HBP: Eichelberger, Sadie 1
