Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, May 2
Fort Collins, CO
6:00 PM
Colorado State
26-18, 9-10
3
vs
9
Boise State
31-21, 11-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 0 |
| Colorado State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
Rams Fall in Opener of Final Series
5/2/2024 8:56:00 PM | Softball
Late burst provides some momentum
The final series of the regular season, all a team can hope for is it means something.
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For Colorado State being at home, it starts with senior weekend. More importantly, the softball team knows the postseason awaits. Where the Rams fall in the tournament bracket was still up for debate, with visiting Boise State the variable in the equation.
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Both teams are in, but if the Rams take the series, they take the fifth seed. After Thursday evening's 9-3 setback to the Broncos, the Rams have to approach the final two with a bit of urgency while not shouldering unnecessary pressure.
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"That's the magic question. They're doing a great job," CSU coach Jen Fisher said. "I saw some great battles. The at-bat from Sydney (Hornbuckle) when she hit the home run was incredible. We just need to keep the game within reach, but I feel there's a great feeling of confidence and aggressiveness in the team."
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Playing under the lights at Ram Field for the first time this season, the Rams (26-18, 9-10 Mountain West) fell behind early when Boise State used a four-hit first to score three runs. The Broncos used the same formula in the fourth to open up a 6-0 lead.
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Not the ideal start to a series. Not a waste, either.
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"I think we saw their top two pitchers today, so that will be good information for us, so that will be good information for tomorrow," Peyton Allen said. "We'll use that. We know what we need to do now. We'll keep fighting and work to pull out these next two."
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The Rams put a run on the board in the fifth as Molly Gates started a three-hit barrage which led to her scoring on Sydney Hornbuckle's single. The next frame, the Rams made it 6-2 when Allen launched her 10th home run of the season to left.
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But in the mix, there were close calls on well hit balls which didn't find green, or at least didn't find it in fair play.
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"Sometimes that's just how it works. I feel like if you look at the stats, they had 10 hits and we had seven," Gates said. "Peyton hits a shot to third and it happens to be a double play. Ashley (York) hits a ball on the line, and it doesn't go our way. That's how the game is. We don't look at the score as anything; we know we're a good hitting team and we can hit any team."
Â
It drew the Rams closer, but then the Broncos added some distance with another three-run frame in the top of the seventh. The only counter the Rams had was a home run by Hornbuckle, but it did mean something.
Â
Her shot to right came after she fouled off a series of two-strike pitches, finally squaring up one she could drive. The fact the Rams didn't go quietly is a bit of a lift.
Â
"We had good at-bats here and hitting the ball hard, just not finding holes today," Allen said. "We'll have a good BP tomorrow and keep hitting it hard."
Â
Fisher found some other positives. She felt her pitcher, even Hornbuckle who started, was hitting spots. Giselle Bentley was strong in relief for good few innings before the Broncos found some more hits. The way the coach saw it, the Rams are going to need some pitching depth in the tournament, so getting some innings in could work to keep them sharp.
Â
As for an offense which has been lighting up the scoreboard the second half of the conference campaign, one somewhat off day doesn't deter them. Just as the one loss didn't mean they could still achieve their weekend goal.
Â
"Like Coach (Shana) Easley said to us, eyes forward," Gates said. "This game is done and over with. We have to get back on these next two, and I have all the confidence in the world we will."
Â
Friday's second game begins at 6 p.m., with Saturday's finale set for noon.
Â
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For Colorado State being at home, it starts with senior weekend. More importantly, the softball team knows the postseason awaits. Where the Rams fall in the tournament bracket was still up for debate, with visiting Boise State the variable in the equation.
Â
Both teams are in, but if the Rams take the series, they take the fifth seed. After Thursday evening's 9-3 setback to the Broncos, the Rams have to approach the final two with a bit of urgency while not shouldering unnecessary pressure.
Â
"That's the magic question. They're doing a great job," CSU coach Jen Fisher said. "I saw some great battles. The at-bat from Sydney (Hornbuckle) when she hit the home run was incredible. We just need to keep the game within reach, but I feel there's a great feeling of confidence and aggressiveness in the team."
Â
Playing under the lights at Ram Field for the first time this season, the Rams (26-18, 9-10 Mountain West) fell behind early when Boise State used a four-hit first to score three runs. The Broncos used the same formula in the fourth to open up a 6-0 lead.
Â
Not the ideal start to a series. Not a waste, either.
Â
"I think we saw their top two pitchers today, so that will be good information for us, so that will be good information for tomorrow," Peyton Allen said. "We'll use that. We know what we need to do now. We'll keep fighting and work to pull out these next two."
Â
The Rams put a run on the board in the fifth as Molly Gates started a three-hit barrage which led to her scoring on Sydney Hornbuckle's single. The next frame, the Rams made it 6-2 when Allen launched her 10th home run of the season to left.
Â
But in the mix, there were close calls on well hit balls which didn't find green, or at least didn't find it in fair play.
Â
"Sometimes that's just how it works. I feel like if you look at the stats, they had 10 hits and we had seven," Gates said. "Peyton hits a shot to third and it happens to be a double play. Ashley (York) hits a ball on the line, and it doesn't go our way. That's how the game is. We don't look at the score as anything; we know we're a good hitting team and we can hit any team."
Â
It drew the Rams closer, but then the Broncos added some distance with another three-run frame in the top of the seventh. The only counter the Rams had was a home run by Hornbuckle, but it did mean something.
Â
Her shot to right came after she fouled off a series of two-strike pitches, finally squaring up one she could drive. The fact the Rams didn't go quietly is a bit of a lift.
Â
"We had good at-bats here and hitting the ball hard, just not finding holes today," Allen said. "We'll have a good BP tomorrow and keep hitting it hard."
Â
Fisher found some other positives. She felt her pitcher, even Hornbuckle who started, was hitting spots. Giselle Bentley was strong in relief for good few innings before the Broncos found some more hits. The way the coach saw it, the Rams are going to need some pitching depth in the tournament, so getting some innings in could work to keep them sharp.
Â
As for an offense which has been lighting up the scoreboard the second half of the conference campaign, one somewhat off day doesn't deter them. Just as the one loss didn't mean they could still achieve their weekend goal.
Â
"Like Coach (Shana) Easley said to us, eyes forward," Gates said. "This game is done and over with. We have to get back on these next two, and I have all the confidence in the world we will."
Â
Friday's second game begins at 6 p.m., with Saturday's finale set for noon.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: CAUDILL, T (17-12)
L: Hornbuckle, Sydney (12-8)
Batting:
2B: HUTCHINS, J 1
RBI: KNIGHT, S 1 ; HUTCHINS, J 1 ; McANALLY, L 2 ; GROVES, S 1 ; FARMER, H 1 ; WHALEN, A 1
SH: McANALLY, L 1 ; BUMCROT, A 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KNIGHT, S 1 ; HUTCHINS, J 1 ; FLORES, A 1 ; GOUSHA, K 1 ; HANNA, M 2 ; STROH, S 1 ; FARMER, H 1 ; BERGESEN, K 1
HBP: HANNA, M 1 ; BUMCROT, A 1
Batting:
HR: Allen, Peyton 1 ; Hornbuckle, Sydney 1
RBI: Allen, Peyton 1 ; Hornbuckle, Sydney 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Allen, Peyton 1 ; Gates, Molly 1 ; Hornbuckle, Sydney 1
HBP: Serna, Danielle 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
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