Colorado State University Athletics
Wednesday, April 12
Fort Collins, CO
12:00 PM
Colorado State
19-14, 5-7
0
vs
6
Utah State
13-17, 5-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Utah State
0
0
0
5
1
0
0
6
9
0
Colorado State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Rams Split Doubleheader against Aggies
4/12/2023 6:57:00 PM | Softball
Colorado State bounces back in game two win
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The game was out of character for the team at the start Wednesday.
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Colorado State's softball team, second in the Mountain West in batting average and last in strikeouts, was not having any luck in either department the first game of it's doubleheader with Utah State. Part of it was the pitcher they were facing – freshman Hailey McLean – who was checking them and following her script. She entered the day second in the league in strikeouts (100 on the nose), but also led the league in walks allowed.
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A handful of her 12 strikeouts came on pitches which would have been fall four, which would have added to her total of four free passes. And when the Rams were making contact, it wasn't great, limited to just two hits and very few scoring threats in what became a 6-0 loss, with the Aggies scoring five in one inning.
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"I wasn't super frustrated," CSU coach Jen Fisher said. "I think that's what we saw at San Jose State, and we really had a good day and half of practice. I thought out kids were dialed in they were fouling pitches off. They were having long, extended at-bats and I thought the good news was we made her throw enough pitches that we wouldn't see her in game two."
Â
A new game brought about a new pitcher, but for the first three innings, the Rams still weren't hitting the ball. The fourth brought about a different outcome, and the pitching of Julia Cabral allowed for some patience as the Rams generated a 7-2 victory in the nightcap, splitting the conference set to leave the Rams 20-12 on the year, 6-7 in league play.
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At the second game's close, the Rams had 12 hits and erupted for all seven runs in the middle innings, putting three on the board in the fourth to take the lead, four more a frame later to give them cushion.
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"it was a little out of character for us. We've always done a good job of fighting through pitches and seeing multiple pitches throughout the game," Danielle Serna said. "It happens sometimes. You run into good pitchers, but I think it was good to see the team fight back in the second game and put all the pressure on them. I think it's trusting the scouring we've done and the plan the coaches have put in our heads, trusting it as much as you can."
Â
Utah State aided the cause in the second game, committing six errors which led to four unearned runs, but the Rams were putting pressure on them with solid contact and aggressive baserunning. Serna had two hits, her RBI single in the third sparking the offense, while Ashley York put up three and scored twice. Hailey Smith's lone hit was a two-run triple, and Kaitlyn Cook also notched a pair of hits.
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As good as it was for the Rams to see the offense return, it was especially encouraging to see Cabral's performance in the circle in her fourth start of the season. She missed the early portion of the campaign due to a shoulder injury, and she was unable to get out of the inning in her first two starts. The past two have been a different story.
Â
She went four innings in each, and the only runs she allowed on the day were unearned as the Aggies scored twice in the third in a stanza where the door was opened by a two-out error.
Â
"I felt really excited being back out there being with a team I know has my back no matter how I do," Cabral said. "The last start gave me confidence, and I feel I've been able to do a bit more, because I'm still restricted. I think getting more time in, I've gotten more confident."
Â
Cabral allowed just three hits in the start, striking out two without a walk. Sydney Hornbuckle closed it out with three strong innings in relief, allowing just two hits.
Â
She didn't have to work out of any real trouble outside of the third and she's starting to regain her groove. Her goal is to keep pushing forward without pushing too fast.
Â
"What's better is my confidence. And just knowing what's going on behind me," she said. "We have a good Wi-Fi; we can feel the connection with all the fielders behind us. All of my pitches are feeling better. I struggled a lot at the beginning because of what I could and couldn't do, but as time as gone on, I've gotten the hang of all my pitches back, so having movement with all of them has really helped me."
Â
With Cabral back in good form, Fisher now has more depth to her staff and a bit more confidence in the home stretch of conference play.
Â
"I love what I'm seeing," she said. "We're really happy to get her back. That's a key. Nellie and Syd have just been shouldering the weight, and it's good to have Jetta and Julia back at full strength. You can feel the experience. Julia and Jetta have been here before, and I think that was really good.
Â
The day started with a good vibe for the team as four players from the 1992 and 1994 teams, which sued to keep the program from being dropped, returned. Jennifer Roberts threw out the ceremonial first pitch with her teammates behind her.
Â
It is a story Fisher make sure all of her team knows, as their fight is directly responsible for the opportunity the current roster has to play, as well as at the renovated Ram Field they call home. In competition, sometimes it's a fight to have success and it can be attributed to those in front of you.
Â
Like in a lineup on a day when the flow just doesn't feel right. Someone has to throw the first punch, knowing those behind them will follow.
Â
"I think it's just trusting each other," Serna said. "I think we do a great job of passing the bat, trusting the person behind us and the person on base."
Â
The team's busy week continues with a trip to Albuquerque, N.M., with games Saturday and Sunday against the Lobos as the chase for the upcoming Mountain West Tournament continues, with the top six teams invited. The Rams, who played a top-heavy schedule to start, currently sit in sixth.
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Colorado State's softball team, second in the Mountain West in batting average and last in strikeouts, was not having any luck in either department the first game of it's doubleheader with Utah State. Part of it was the pitcher they were facing – freshman Hailey McLean – who was checking them and following her script. She entered the day second in the league in strikeouts (100 on the nose), but also led the league in walks allowed.
Â
A handful of her 12 strikeouts came on pitches which would have been fall four, which would have added to her total of four free passes. And when the Rams were making contact, it wasn't great, limited to just two hits and very few scoring threats in what became a 6-0 loss, with the Aggies scoring five in one inning.
Â
"I wasn't super frustrated," CSU coach Jen Fisher said. "I think that's what we saw at San Jose State, and we really had a good day and half of practice. I thought out kids were dialed in they were fouling pitches off. They were having long, extended at-bats and I thought the good news was we made her throw enough pitches that we wouldn't see her in game two."
Â
A new game brought about a new pitcher, but for the first three innings, the Rams still weren't hitting the ball. The fourth brought about a different outcome, and the pitching of Julia Cabral allowed for some patience as the Rams generated a 7-2 victory in the nightcap, splitting the conference set to leave the Rams 20-12 on the year, 6-7 in league play.
Â
At the second game's close, the Rams had 12 hits and erupted for all seven runs in the middle innings, putting three on the board in the fourth to take the lead, four more a frame later to give them cushion.
Â
"it was a little out of character for us. We've always done a good job of fighting through pitches and seeing multiple pitches throughout the game," Danielle Serna said. "It happens sometimes. You run into good pitchers, but I think it was good to see the team fight back in the second game and put all the pressure on them. I think it's trusting the scouring we've done and the plan the coaches have put in our heads, trusting it as much as you can."
Â
Utah State aided the cause in the second game, committing six errors which led to four unearned runs, but the Rams were putting pressure on them with solid contact and aggressive baserunning. Serna had two hits, her RBI single in the third sparking the offense, while Ashley York put up three and scored twice. Hailey Smith's lone hit was a two-run triple, and Kaitlyn Cook also notched a pair of hits.
Â
As good as it was for the Rams to see the offense return, it was especially encouraging to see Cabral's performance in the circle in her fourth start of the season. She missed the early portion of the campaign due to a shoulder injury, and she was unable to get out of the inning in her first two starts. The past two have been a different story.
Â
She went four innings in each, and the only runs she allowed on the day were unearned as the Aggies scored twice in the third in a stanza where the door was opened by a two-out error.
Â
"I felt really excited being back out there being with a team I know has my back no matter how I do," Cabral said. "The last start gave me confidence, and I feel I've been able to do a bit more, because I'm still restricted. I think getting more time in, I've gotten more confident."
Â
Cabral allowed just three hits in the start, striking out two without a walk. Sydney Hornbuckle closed it out with three strong innings in relief, allowing just two hits.
Â
She didn't have to work out of any real trouble outside of the third and she's starting to regain her groove. Her goal is to keep pushing forward without pushing too fast.
Â
"What's better is my confidence. And just knowing what's going on behind me," she said. "We have a good Wi-Fi; we can feel the connection with all the fielders behind us. All of my pitches are feeling better. I struggled a lot at the beginning because of what I could and couldn't do, but as time as gone on, I've gotten the hang of all my pitches back, so having movement with all of them has really helped me."
Â
With Cabral back in good form, Fisher now has more depth to her staff and a bit more confidence in the home stretch of conference play.
Â
"I love what I'm seeing," she said. "We're really happy to get her back. That's a key. Nellie and Syd have just been shouldering the weight, and it's good to have Jetta and Julia back at full strength. You can feel the experience. Julia and Jetta have been here before, and I think that was really good.
Â
The day started with a good vibe for the team as four players from the 1992 and 1994 teams, which sued to keep the program from being dropped, returned. Jennifer Roberts threw out the ceremonial first pitch with her teammates behind her.
Â
It is a story Fisher make sure all of her team knows, as their fight is directly responsible for the opportunity the current roster has to play, as well as at the renovated Ram Field they call home. In competition, sometimes it's a fight to have success and it can be attributed to those in front of you.
Â
Like in a lineup on a day when the flow just doesn't feel right. Someone has to throw the first punch, knowing those behind them will follow.
Â
"I think it's just trusting each other," Serna said. "I think we do a great job of passing the bat, trusting the person behind us and the person on base."
Â
The team's busy week continues with a trip to Albuquerque, N.M., with games Saturday and Sunday against the Lobos as the chase for the upcoming Mountain West Tournament continues, with the top six teams invited. The Rams, who played a top-heavy schedule to start, currently sit in sixth.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MCLEAN, Hailey (7-5)
L: Nannen, Jetta (0-3)
Batting:
2B: JIMENEZ, Gabriella 1
HR: COLUNGA, Jaden 1
RBI: COLUNGA, Jaden 2 ; JIMENEZ, Gabriella 1 ; FIFITA, Ariel 2
Base Running:
RUNS: RALEY, Claire 1 ; COLUNGA, Jaden 2 ; MACFARLANE, Makenzie 1 ; JIMENEZ, Gabriella 1 ; GONZALEZ, Giselle 1
SB: RALEY, Claire 2
HBP: GONZALEZ, Giselle 1
Base Running:
SB: York, Ashley 1
HBP: Allen, Peyton 1
Game Leaders
lf/dp
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
cf/lf
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
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RamWire: Coach Fisher One-On-One
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