Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, March 9
Fort Collins, CO
2:00 PM
Colorado State
13-8
6
vs
2
Maine
1-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Colorado State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | X | 6 | 9 | 1 |
Offense Leads Colorado State to Two Wins on Day One of Rams Invitational
3/9/2024 9:53:00 PM | Softball
Rams outscore Maine and Drake by scoring 16 runs over two matchups
FORT COLLINS – The Colorado State softball team kicked off the Rams Invitational Saturday afternoon with two wins in a day one doubleheader. The Rams defeated Maine 6-2 before taking down Drake in run-rule fashion 10-0 in game two.
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A big offensive day for Colorado State didn't start out that way as the Rams found themselves locked scoreless in game one versus the Maine Black Bears through four innings. Starting pitcher Danielle Serna held Maine to just two hits through the first four innings of the game.
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In the top of the fifth, Maine threatened with a runner on third base with no outs. With the Black Bears attempting to bunt in the first run of the game, Serna had a different plan. With a bunt laid down in the next Maine at-bat, Serna scooped the ball on the run and flipped it straight to her catcher, Brooke Bohlender to make the tag at home. While the play held off Maine's initial scoring treat, the Black Bears notched back-to-back hits for the first time of the game to bring in two runs and open up the scoring.
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Returning to the plate, the Rams found a spark when Bohlender led off the inning with a single to left field. A Sydney Hornbuckle double followed by a Jailey Wilson triple down the right field line tied the ball game at two with no outs yet tallied against the Rams.
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Colorado State was able to take the lead with an Ashley York RBI after York grounded out to second base, putting it hard enough in play to score Wilson from third.
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Head coach Jen Fisher entered Giselle Bentley into the circle in relief of Serna to start the top of the sixth inning, but Serna didn't go far. Usually, when Serna finishes her shift in the circle, she grabs her first baseman's glove to play infield for the Rams, but this time she took the other hot corner as a third baseman.
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The Black Bears noticed the switch and attempted to lay down a bunt down the third base line to begin the sixth inning, but despite it being her first time at third base this season, Serna was not caught by surprise. The fifth-year senior fielded the bunt perfectly for the second time in the game and fired it over to first base without skipping a beat. Another defense gem ended the inning for the Rams as Maya Matsubara turned the double play with teammates Peyton Allen and Wilson to send Colorado State back to the plate.
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The Rams tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning after hits from Molly Gates and York sparked a Matsubara triple which cleared the bases.
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Bentley closed out the game in the top of the seventh to earn the Rams a 6-2 game one victory.
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Colorado State kept the good times rolling in game two of the day as 7-0 lead by the end of the second inning ignited a run-rule win over Drake in game two.
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Back-to-back two RBI doubles from Hailey Smith and Gates led the Rams to a four-run first frame before another RBI double from York and a two-run home run from Allen broke open the game for Colorado State in the second inning.
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On defense, game two starting pitcher Sydney Hornbuckle held Drake scoreless through the whole game, only allowing the Bulldogs four hits compared to the Rams' seven.
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The Rams got over the run-rule mark in the fourth inning, adding three more runs off the bats of Allen, Serna and Gates to seal the 10-0 victory in five innings. Hornbuckle finished the game in the circle with one strikeout, eight flyouts and six groundouts.
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On the day as a whole, Gates led the Rams going three-for-six at the plate with three RBI with Ashley York totaling three RBI herself.
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Colorado State will return for day two of the Rams Invitational Sunday as the Rams are set to host Maine again at 2 p.m. and Idaho State at 4:30 p.m.
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A big offensive day for Colorado State didn't start out that way as the Rams found themselves locked scoreless in game one versus the Maine Black Bears through four innings. Starting pitcher Danielle Serna held Maine to just two hits through the first four innings of the game.
Â
In the top of the fifth, Maine threatened with a runner on third base with no outs. With the Black Bears attempting to bunt in the first run of the game, Serna had a different plan. With a bunt laid down in the next Maine at-bat, Serna scooped the ball on the run and flipped it straight to her catcher, Brooke Bohlender to make the tag at home. While the play held off Maine's initial scoring treat, the Black Bears notched back-to-back hits for the first time of the game to bring in two runs and open up the scoring.
Â
Returning to the plate, the Rams found a spark when Bohlender led off the inning with a single to left field. A Sydney Hornbuckle double followed by a Jailey Wilson triple down the right field line tied the ball game at two with no outs yet tallied against the Rams.
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Colorado State was able to take the lead with an Ashley York RBI after York grounded out to second base, putting it hard enough in play to score Wilson from third.
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Head coach Jen Fisher entered Giselle Bentley into the circle in relief of Serna to start the top of the sixth inning, but Serna didn't go far. Usually, when Serna finishes her shift in the circle, she grabs her first baseman's glove to play infield for the Rams, but this time she took the other hot corner as a third baseman.
Â
The Black Bears noticed the switch and attempted to lay down a bunt down the third base line to begin the sixth inning, but despite it being her first time at third base this season, Serna was not caught by surprise. The fifth-year senior fielded the bunt perfectly for the second time in the game and fired it over to first base without skipping a beat. Another defense gem ended the inning for the Rams as Maya Matsubara turned the double play with teammates Peyton Allen and Wilson to send Colorado State back to the plate.
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The Rams tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning after hits from Molly Gates and York sparked a Matsubara triple which cleared the bases.
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Bentley closed out the game in the top of the seventh to earn the Rams a 6-2 game one victory.
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Colorado State kept the good times rolling in game two of the day as 7-0 lead by the end of the second inning ignited a run-rule win over Drake in game two.
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Back-to-back two RBI doubles from Hailey Smith and Gates led the Rams to a four-run first frame before another RBI double from York and a two-run home run from Allen broke open the game for Colorado State in the second inning.
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On defense, game two starting pitcher Sydney Hornbuckle held Drake scoreless through the whole game, only allowing the Bulldogs four hits compared to the Rams' seven.
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The Rams got over the run-rule mark in the fourth inning, adding three more runs off the bats of Allen, Serna and Gates to seal the 10-0 victory in five innings. Hornbuckle finished the game in the circle with one strikeout, eight flyouts and six groundouts.
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On the day as a whole, Gates led the Rams going three-for-six at the plate with three RBI with Ashley York totaling three RBI herself.
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Colorado State will return for day two of the Rams Invitational Sunday as the Rams are set to host Maine again at 2 p.m. and Idaho State at 4:30 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Serna, Danielle (5-3)
L: Thomas, Kaly (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Moery, Katie Jo 1
RBI: Francia, Krista 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hernandez, Kyli 1 ; Moery, Katie Jo 1
SB: Moery, Katie Jo 1 ; Inman, Keira 1
CS: Inman, Keira 1
Batting:
2B: Serna, Danielle 1 ; Hornbuckle, Sydney 1
3B: Matsubara, Maya 1 ; Wilson, Jailey 1
RBI: York, Ashley 2 ; Matsubara, Maya 2 ; Wilson, Jailey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: York, Ashley 1 ; Gates, Molly 1 ; Coleman, Morgan 1 ; Wilson, Jailey 2 ; Crosby, Morgan 1
SB: York, Ashley 1
HBP: Wilson, Jailey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
p/3b
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
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