Colorado State Home Runs Lift Rams to 2-0 Day

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Feb 28

10:30 AM

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1:00 PM

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vs Northern Colorado

Feb 28

3:30 PM

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11:00 AM

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2:00 PM

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Colorado State softball team moved to 6-3 on the season and 2-1 on the weekend after the Rams defeated the Long Island Sharks and Eastern Illinois Panthers, both by a score of 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the Torero Classic.

Game 1: Colorado State, 4 | Long Island, 1

The day started out strong for the Rams in a victory over Long Island where senior pitcher Sydney Hornbuckle pitched a two-hit game while Hailey Smith recorded two big hits for Colorado State.

Both offenses were quiet through the first two innings of play with Hornbuckle retiring six straight batters to start the game. One of only two hits from the Sharks came to lead off the third innings when Mari Narviaz doubled to center field. The Sharks were able to bring Narviaz in to score off a Colorado State error, adding to the scoreboard first.

The Rams responded in the fourth and never looked back. After Danielle Serna reached bases via a hit-by-pitch, one of her three HBP at bats of the game, Smith homered down the left field line to reclaim the 2-1 lead for the Rams with her first home run of the season.

"I think offensively we've been really dialed in, had really good BP round pre-game and I kept saying that I think if we hit the ball hard on the ground, at this level, eventually it's going to go and produce good things," head coach Jen Fisher said.

Hornbuckle continued her dominance in the circle, retiring the Sharks in order through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

In the top of the sixth, Serna reached base, again on a hit-by-pitch, before Hailey Smtih put both herself and Serna in scoring position with her second hit of the game. A sacrifice-fly RBI from Molly Gates and a fielder's choice from Peyton Allen scored both Serna and Smith to add insurance runs for the Rams.

"I think something we worked on all week was being patient in the box," Gates said. "We've all just been so eager to crush the ball, so I think just being patient, working the opposite field and staying in on the ball was really good preparation for this weekend."

Long Island was able to add one more hit to its total in the bottom of the seventh, but the complete game effort from Hornbuckle was too much to overcome for the Sharks. Her five strikeouts in 24 batters faced led the Rams to a 4-1 victory to start the day.

Game 2: Colorado State, 4 | Eastern Illinois 1

Game two for the Rams was a rematch of yesterday's run-rule win over the Panthers, but this time with some different personnel on the field for Colorado State. Two freshmen made their impact known in game two of the day as a two-home run performance from Jailey Wilson and a relief pitching performance from Reagan Wick led the Rams to another 4-1 win over Eastern Illinois.

Serna started in the circle in game two for the Rams, pitching five innings and only allowing five hits through 23 batters faced. Her dominance through the first five innings kept the Panthers off the board.

Meanwhile, freshman Jailey Wilson was producing offensively for the Rams. Wilson hit her first career home run in the bottom of the third inning to spark the Rams to a 1-0 lead. In her next at-bat in the bottom of the fourth, Wilson blasted another homer, this time a two-run shot, scoring Gates after she reached with a hit of her own.

"I knew for a fact I wanted to swing hard, no matter where it went and it meant a lot, especially to help my team," Wilson said.

"I think Jailey gave us a big lift that we needed right there." Fisher said. "Her first one, it just helped us understand that we can drive the ball even at sea level. She drove it into the trees, so it was a no doubter. Her second one was just as big."

The Rams took a 3-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning where Eastern Illinois was looking to answer back. After a leadoff walk and a single up the middle, the Panthers were threatening with base runners and no outs.

Enter Reagan Wick.

Two swinging strikeouts to her first two batters faced took the Rams out of a tough situation, but the Panthers were able to grab their only run of the game with a single to left field. Nonetheless, Colorado State still led 3-1 heading into the sixth.

"I think the upperclassman are so important in continuing to remind the freshman they have a lot to offer and that they're here for a reason so, lock in like we know you can, and it was really good to see Jailey and Reagan have that confidence," Fisher said.

Gates gave the Rams one more insurance run with a home run of her own to right center. The long ball was Gates' first of the season and fourth of her Colorado State career.

"Hitting that home run felt good for my team, I just want to do whatever I can to help my team and get behind our pitchers," Gates said. "We're really just focusing on hitting hard line drives, hitting hard ground balls and making the defense work, the home runs will come, like they did today, but our main goals are base hits and line drives and its awesome to go win games like that."

Wick closed out the game with three straight outs, securing the second win of the day for Colorado State by throwing two full innings with two strikeouts while only allowing one hit.

The Rams will close out their time at the Torero Classic Sunday with a matchup against host team San Diego at 12:30 p.m.

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