Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, February 16
San Diego, CA
10:00 AM
Colorado State
3-3
3
vs
5
Southern Utah
5-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Colorado State
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
3
6
2
Southern Utah
3
0
0
0
0
2
X
5
6
2
Rams Run Rule Eastern Illinois on Day One of Torero Classic
2/16/2024 9:13:00 PM | Softball
Colorado State falls to Southern Utah in game one
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Colorado State softball team went 1-1 on day one of the Torero Classic. The Rams run-ruled the Eastern Illinois Panthers, 10-2, after falling to Southern Utah 5-3.
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The Rams closed the day on a high note, putting up ten total runs on Eastern Illinois in game two of the day. Playing at sea level for the second weekend in a row, the Rams were dependent on stringing hits together compared to scoring via the home run in the thin Colorado air.
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"I think we were just trying to work on just getting our swing. Hitting hard ground balls, make something happen on the ground because balls aren't going to fly as far as they do back in Colorado," said fifth-year senior Danielle Serna.
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After surrendering two runs in the top of the first inning, the Rams responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the lead.
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After Ashley York singled to begin the inning, a Serna single and a fielder's choice by Hailey Smith put York in scoring position for Molly Gates to bat in the first run of the inning with a single through the right side. Two more runs came through in the bottom of the first when Peyton Allen put the ball in play to reach on an error, scoring both Smith and Gates.
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After a scoreless top of the second inning from Colorado State starting pitcher Sydney Hornbuckle, the Rams kept it pouring on as they added six more runs on offense in the bottom of the second.
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"I thought it was a great response in the bottom of the second. Syd is going to be Syd, she is so level headed, but I think that its so helpful as a pitcher to know that 'we answered right back, I'm not pitching from behind." head coach Jen Fisher said.
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Hornbuckle started out the inning by drawing a leadoff walk followed by Morgan Crosby reaching base on an error. York recorded her first RBI of the day with a single to center field, scoring Morgan Coleman, who pinch ran for Hornbuckle. With two runners still on, Eastern Illinois opted to make a pitching change.
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After Maya Matsubara spoiled the Panther's fresh start in the circle by drawing a walk to load the bases, Serna hit the Rams' first triple of the game to clear the bases and spark Colorado State to a 7-2 lead.
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"I was just trying to put my best swing on each pitch. I especially saw that the outfield was shifted so I was trying to take it a certain direction and hit a gap to help my team." Serna said.
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Another extra base hit from Smith scored Serna from third before catcher Brooke Bohlender scored Smith with a single to right field. The Rams would take a 9-2 lead into the third inning.
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Hornbuckle kept the Panthers scoreless through both the third and fourth inning before the pitcher hit in the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth. After Peyton Allen tripled to right center, Hornbuckle scored Allen from third to take the eight-run advantage en route to the run-rule victory.
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"Our bats coming alive was great. It made me feel better as a pitcher when we were able to come back with some big runs," Hornbuckle said. "It was great getting to hit in this game too, I was really pumped for that last run and that last out and I think everyone kept the energy really high which kept our bats going the whole game."
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Serna finished the second game 3-3 with three RBI with York going 2-3 and adding an RBI herself. Hornbuckle finished her fourth appearance in the circle this season with the five-inning win, striking out three batters and only allowing four hits.
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In game one, the Rams were able to score in the top of the first inning off the bat of Serna, but Southern Utah responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first. The Rams were able to tie it up in the fourth inning with a two-RBI single from Abby Edwards, but ultimately, the Thunderbirds were able to add two more runs in the sixth inning, taking the 5-3 victory.
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The Rams will return to action in day two of the Torero Classic Saturday with a matchup against Long Island at 10 a.m. and a second matchup against Eastern Illinois at 3 p.m.
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The Rams closed the day on a high note, putting up ten total runs on Eastern Illinois in game two of the day. Playing at sea level for the second weekend in a row, the Rams were dependent on stringing hits together compared to scoring via the home run in the thin Colorado air.
Â
"I think we were just trying to work on just getting our swing. Hitting hard ground balls, make something happen on the ground because balls aren't going to fly as far as they do back in Colorado," said fifth-year senior Danielle Serna.
Â
After surrendering two runs in the top of the first inning, the Rams responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the lead.
Â
After Ashley York singled to begin the inning, a Serna single and a fielder's choice by Hailey Smith put York in scoring position for Molly Gates to bat in the first run of the inning with a single through the right side. Two more runs came through in the bottom of the first when Peyton Allen put the ball in play to reach on an error, scoring both Smith and Gates.
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After a scoreless top of the second inning from Colorado State starting pitcher Sydney Hornbuckle, the Rams kept it pouring on as they added six more runs on offense in the bottom of the second.
Â
"I thought it was a great response in the bottom of the second. Syd is going to be Syd, she is so level headed, but I think that its so helpful as a pitcher to know that 'we answered right back, I'm not pitching from behind." head coach Jen Fisher said.
Â
Hornbuckle started out the inning by drawing a leadoff walk followed by Morgan Crosby reaching base on an error. York recorded her first RBI of the day with a single to center field, scoring Morgan Coleman, who pinch ran for Hornbuckle. With two runners still on, Eastern Illinois opted to make a pitching change.
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After Maya Matsubara spoiled the Panther's fresh start in the circle by drawing a walk to load the bases, Serna hit the Rams' first triple of the game to clear the bases and spark Colorado State to a 7-2 lead.
Â
"I was just trying to put my best swing on each pitch. I especially saw that the outfield was shifted so I was trying to take it a certain direction and hit a gap to help my team." Serna said.
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Another extra base hit from Smith scored Serna from third before catcher Brooke Bohlender scored Smith with a single to right field. The Rams would take a 9-2 lead into the third inning.
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Hornbuckle kept the Panthers scoreless through both the third and fourth inning before the pitcher hit in the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth. After Peyton Allen tripled to right center, Hornbuckle scored Allen from third to take the eight-run advantage en route to the run-rule victory.
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"Our bats coming alive was great. It made me feel better as a pitcher when we were able to come back with some big runs," Hornbuckle said. "It was great getting to hit in this game too, I was really pumped for that last run and that last out and I think everyone kept the energy really high which kept our bats going the whole game."
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Serna finished the second game 3-3 with three RBI with York going 2-3 and adding an RBI herself. Hornbuckle finished her fourth appearance in the circle this season with the five-inning win, striking out three batters and only allowing four hits.
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In game one, the Rams were able to score in the top of the first inning off the bat of Serna, but Southern Utah responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the first. The Rams were able to tie it up in the fourth inning with a two-RBI single from Abby Edwards, but ultimately, the Thunderbirds were able to add two more runs in the sixth inning, taking the 5-3 victory.
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The Rams will return to action in day two of the Torero Classic Saturday with a matchup against Long Island at 10 a.m. and a second matchup against Eastern Illinois at 3 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Delaney Baker (1-0)
L: Bentley, Giselle (0-1)
S: Shelby Basso (1)
Batting:
2B: Serna, Danielle 1
RBI: Edwards, Abby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Matsubara, Maya 1 ; Gates, Molly 1 ; Allen, Peyton 1
SB: Coleman, Morgan 1
Batting:
2B: Sophia Masut 1
RBI: Ariyana Miranda 1 ; Arianna Ramirez 1 ; Sophia Masut 2
SF: Ariyana Miranda 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Karmyna Becerra 1 ; Miranda Lopez 1 ; Emily Gonzalez 2 ; Capri Franzen 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
p/1b
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
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