Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, April 2
Fort Collins, CO
1:00 PM
Colorado State
18-11, 0
8
vs
5
UNLV
17-18, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UNLV
1
2
0
0
2
0
0
5
4
4
Colorado State
5
1
0
0
0
2
X
8
10
2
Serna strolls the Rams to victory
4/2/2023 4:32:00 PM | Softball
Complete pitching and offense did the job
By: Evan Liu
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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The best of both worlds came to light at Ram Field.
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A good pitching performance along with steady offense helped the Colorado State Rams avoid a sweep by the UNLV Lady Rebels in an 8-5 win. Pitching battles split between two familiar names managed to keep many balls from getting beyond the infield.
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"I'm excited we've been able to bounce back from the last couple of games," starting and winning pitcher Danielle Serna said. "As a team, we needed to rejuvenate today, and we did that."
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Serna completed five innings and only allowed three hits in an 87-pitch performance. Combined between the three-game weekend series against the Lady Rebels, Serna threw 229 pitches.
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Once Serna was pulled after giving up a few walks and runs, Sydney Hornbuckle was called upon in relief. She also pitched lights out, only giving up one hit in two innings and striking out two in only 22 pitches. She too threw a bunch this weekend, 182 pitches to be exact.
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"I think they really give us a great shot to win," head coach Jen Fisher said. "We're still seeing some good evolution and development from our freshmen. Even though we looked a little shorthanded this weekend, we know they give us a great shot every weekend."
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There was somewhat of a role reversal from Saturday night's grand opening game, as UNLV (17-18, 3-7) had put up six runs in the first inning on the Rams. Today, Colorado State (18-11, 4-4) put up five runs in the first inning on the Lady Rebels.
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The Rams batted around the order in the first inning as well to help their cause. It allowed them to be on top early and throughout the matchup before closing it out in the end with players completing the job both on offense and defense.
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"I love doing it, both being in the field and on the mound," Serna said who also had an RBI. "I just try to help out my team as much as I can. I love the grind, and just being involved in every play."
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The Rams managed to get plenty of traffic on the bases Sunday afternoon. Every player who came to bat ended up on base at least once in the game, whether through a hit or a walk, or anywhere in between.
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Head coach Jen Fisher had mentioned after the game Saturday night about getting traffic on bases and creating chances from there. It's safe to say they accomplished this feat in the win.
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"Sydney Hornbuckle got on base so many times at the bottom of the order and it was so crucial," Fisher said. "Kate Cook came up with a clutch hit so that bottom of the order and everyone getting on was traffic, traffic, traffic. I think we were going to go for it no matter what."
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Even with all the traffic on the mound, UNLV managed to get traffic on too. In the fifth inning, the Lady Rebels managed to chase Serna off the mound with a couple of walks, a hit by pitch – her third of the game – and an error at third base from Jordan West.
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The UNLV batters drew several walks, two straight to walk in two runs, and make it a one-run game in the final couple of innings. But Molly Gates, who took a while to warm up her bat after a lead-off single in the first inning, came up in the clutch for some insurance runs with an RBI triple, her first of the year.
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"I just trust myself and everyone's abilities," Gates said. "I'm just trying to get the next person up to bat, trying to get traffic on the bases."
Â
Gates' impact at the plate continues to be felt throughout, especially in close scenarios such as this one late on. Her triple tacked the extra runs in case the Rams needed it and helped them avoid the sweep.
Â
While the weekend maybe didn't go the way they'd hoped for on the field, it left a lasting impact off the field. Dozens of kids stayed behind to get autographs from all the players and take a big group picture. Fans were drawn in perhaps for the first time for the grand opening Saturday evening.
Â
All around, it was a special weekend. Continuing into conference play in April and May, they'll look to take the momentum and hold it tight, starting off in San Jose against San Jose State Thursday night.
Â
"The theme will be to take what we can from these games this weekend," Gates said. "We didn't get the outcome we wanted, we know we're better than that. We can go up against anybody, no matter who it is."
Â
"We're still rebounding from mistakes, and we'll keep at it," Fisher said. "Capitalize on mistakes, stick with it, and make sure we're really leaving our offense out of our defense. We'll take a little more pride and love in our pitchers, our offense, and our defense."
Â
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The best of both worlds came to light at Ram Field.
Â
A good pitching performance along with steady offense helped the Colorado State Rams avoid a sweep by the UNLV Lady Rebels in an 8-5 win. Pitching battles split between two familiar names managed to keep many balls from getting beyond the infield.
Â
"I'm excited we've been able to bounce back from the last couple of games," starting and winning pitcher Danielle Serna said. "As a team, we needed to rejuvenate today, and we did that."
Â
Serna completed five innings and only allowed three hits in an 87-pitch performance. Combined between the three-game weekend series against the Lady Rebels, Serna threw 229 pitches.
Â
Once Serna was pulled after giving up a few walks and runs, Sydney Hornbuckle was called upon in relief. She also pitched lights out, only giving up one hit in two innings and striking out two in only 22 pitches. She too threw a bunch this weekend, 182 pitches to be exact.
Â
"I think they really give us a great shot to win," head coach Jen Fisher said. "We're still seeing some good evolution and development from our freshmen. Even though we looked a little shorthanded this weekend, we know they give us a great shot every weekend."
Â
There was somewhat of a role reversal from Saturday night's grand opening game, as UNLV (17-18, 3-7) had put up six runs in the first inning on the Rams. Today, Colorado State (18-11, 4-4) put up five runs in the first inning on the Lady Rebels.
Â
The Rams batted around the order in the first inning as well to help their cause. It allowed them to be on top early and throughout the matchup before closing it out in the end with players completing the job both on offense and defense.
Â
"I love doing it, both being in the field and on the mound," Serna said who also had an RBI. "I just try to help out my team as much as I can. I love the grind, and just being involved in every play."
Â
The Rams managed to get plenty of traffic on the bases Sunday afternoon. Every player who came to bat ended up on base at least once in the game, whether through a hit or a walk, or anywhere in between.
Â
Head coach Jen Fisher had mentioned after the game Saturday night about getting traffic on bases and creating chances from there. It's safe to say they accomplished this feat in the win.
Â
"Sydney Hornbuckle got on base so many times at the bottom of the order and it was so crucial," Fisher said. "Kate Cook came up with a clutch hit so that bottom of the order and everyone getting on was traffic, traffic, traffic. I think we were going to go for it no matter what."
Â
Even with all the traffic on the mound, UNLV managed to get traffic on too. In the fifth inning, the Lady Rebels managed to chase Serna off the mound with a couple of walks, a hit by pitch – her third of the game – and an error at third base from Jordan West.
Â
The UNLV batters drew several walks, two straight to walk in two runs, and make it a one-run game in the final couple of innings. But Molly Gates, who took a while to warm up her bat after a lead-off single in the first inning, came up in the clutch for some insurance runs with an RBI triple, her first of the year.
Â
"I just trust myself and everyone's abilities," Gates said. "I'm just trying to get the next person up to bat, trying to get traffic on the bases."
Â
Gates' impact at the plate continues to be felt throughout, especially in close scenarios such as this one late on. Her triple tacked the extra runs in case the Rams needed it and helped them avoid the sweep.
Â
While the weekend maybe didn't go the way they'd hoped for on the field, it left a lasting impact off the field. Dozens of kids stayed behind to get autographs from all the players and take a big group picture. Fans were drawn in perhaps for the first time for the grand opening Saturday evening.
Â
All around, it was a special weekend. Continuing into conference play in April and May, they'll look to take the momentum and hold it tight, starting off in San Jose against San Jose State Thursday night.
Â
"The theme will be to take what we can from these games this weekend," Gates said. "We didn't get the outcome we wanted, we know we're better than that. We can go up against anybody, no matter who it is."
Â
"We're still rebounding from mistakes, and we'll keep at it," Fisher said. "Capitalize on mistakes, stick with it, and make sure we're really leaving our offense out of our defense. We'll take a little more pride and love in our pitchers, our offense, and our defense."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Serna, Danielle (8-3)
L: ZELLIEN, Ellie (5-4)
Batting:
RBI: SCHMIDT, Maddie 2 ; ARMENDARIZ, Denise 1 ; MARTIN, Janyssa 1 ; SHAW, Skyler 1
SH: SCHMALTZ, Hailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: VISSER, April 1 ; KELSO, Kelsie 1 ; ARMENDARIZ, Denise 1 ; MARTIN, Janyssa 1 ; SHAW, Skyler 1
HBP: VISSER, April 1 ; MARTINEZ, Ariana 1 ; SCHMALTZ, Hailey 1
Batting:
2B: Allen, Peyton 1
3B: Gates, Molly 1
RBI: Gates, Molly 1 ; Allen, Peyton 1 ; York, Ashley 1 ; Smith, Hailey 1 ; Serna, Danielle 1 ; Cook, Kaitlyn 1 ; Nannen, Jetta 1
SF: Allen, Peyton 1 ; Nannen, Jetta 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gates, Molly 2 ; Allen, Peyton 1 ; York, Ashley 1 ; Smith, Hailey 2 ; Coleman, Morgan 1 ; Hornbuckle, Sydney 1
SB: York, Ashley 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballColorado State Softball: Highlights vs. San Jose State
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Colorado State Softball: Highlights vs. New Mexico
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Colorado State Softball: Highlights vs. San Jose State Game Two
Saturday, March 26
RamWire: Coach Fisher One-On-One
Tuesday, May 14