Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, March 27
Fort Collins, CO
4:00 PM
Colorado State
12-18, 3-4
9
vs
14
Utah State
17-14, 3-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Utah State
0
4
3
3
1
1
2
14
17
0
Colorado State
5
0
0
0
2
1
1
9
16
3
Lessons Learned Against Aggies
3/27/2025 7:23:00 PM | Softball
Defensive errors make the game in series opener
Coming out strong doesn't always guarantee a win, a reality which became evident in Colorado State softball's series opener against Utah State.
Right out of the gate, the Rams showcased their power with a home run from Kyra Smith, finishing off the first inning with a commanding five-run lead.
But the Aggies quickly answered back, scoring four runs in the top of the second and adding three more in the third. The Aggies pernicious response had claimed a 14-8 victory in the first game of the series.
After the first inning, the Rams' momentum faltered, and the aggressive play they had shown early on gave way to hesitation.
"We just need to play a little more aggressively," coach Jen Fisher said. "We have a couple of young players, and some of our veterans are second-guessing themselves a bit. We need to play with confidence, in all parts of the game."
Fisher knows players on this squad have beat the Aggies previously. After all, the Rams had swept the Aggies last season. However, with 10 true freshmen on the roster this year, the learning curve is steep, and the team is still in the process of finding its identity.
Smith is part of that. As a true freshman herself, she finished the day with one run off one hit, a .288 batting average, and three RBI.
"I think it's really important to set the tone in that first inning," Smith said. "Getting those early runs can keep our energy up throughout the game, so we're all ready for tomorrow."
Her attitude mirrored the team—despite the setback, the Rams didn't let the three empty innings define them. They bounced back from a dry spell in the fifth inning, scoring two runs off a hit from Kaylynn English.
Yet, as much as the Rams' offense showed promise, it was their defense which ultimately held them back. Both teams ended with 16 hits, but CSU's four errors gave USU more chances to capitalize on mistakes. It was the kind of game where every misstep seemed to compound, and the Rams found themselves playing catch-up for the rest of the contest.
"Our defense was the issue," Brooke Bohlender said. "I think we lost it because of the errors. It'll come down to our defense and making those key plays. We'll clean it up tomorrow and come out on top."
With so much talent at the plate, they knew that tightening up their defense was the key to turning the tide in future games.
Working on the ability to bounce back and learn from those errors is what will make the difference in the long run. The challenge for Fisher is finding the right balance between fostering the competitive spirit of her younger players and guiding them through the inevitable growing pains.
"It's really important to knock out pitchers and stay ahead of the game," Fisher said. "We're constantly looking for the best scout on the pitchers so we can get runs on the board. They did a great job holding us scoreless for three innings, but we've got to trust our training and adapt."
The Aggies' defensive switch proved crucial, with pitcher Denay Smith coming in to pitch 117 pitches and allowing just 11 hits.
Despite the loss, Bohlender remained optimistic about the future of the team.
"I think there's so much opportunity for our team right now," she said. "We're relying on a lot of young players, and they've stepped up consistently in our lineup. They shouldn't feel like freshmen at this point. They've done a great job so far, and they're playing a big role on our team."
As the Rams look ahead, they know the talent is there—they just need to refine the details and find consistency. The offense is capable of putting runs on the board, and the young players have shown they're ready for the challenge.
Taking these lessons into tomorrow's game, the roster remains confident in their capability of turning things around and coming out on top in the next two games.
Right out of the gate, the Rams showcased their power with a home run from Kyra Smith, finishing off the first inning with a commanding five-run lead.
But the Aggies quickly answered back, scoring four runs in the top of the second and adding three more in the third. The Aggies pernicious response had claimed a 14-8 victory in the first game of the series.
After the first inning, the Rams' momentum faltered, and the aggressive play they had shown early on gave way to hesitation.
"We just need to play a little more aggressively," coach Jen Fisher said. "We have a couple of young players, and some of our veterans are second-guessing themselves a bit. We need to play with confidence, in all parts of the game."
Fisher knows players on this squad have beat the Aggies previously. After all, the Rams had swept the Aggies last season. However, with 10 true freshmen on the roster this year, the learning curve is steep, and the team is still in the process of finding its identity.
Smith is part of that. As a true freshman herself, she finished the day with one run off one hit, a .288 batting average, and three RBI.
"I think it's really important to set the tone in that first inning," Smith said. "Getting those early runs can keep our energy up throughout the game, so we're all ready for tomorrow."
Her attitude mirrored the team—despite the setback, the Rams didn't let the three empty innings define them. They bounced back from a dry spell in the fifth inning, scoring two runs off a hit from Kaylynn English.
Yet, as much as the Rams' offense showed promise, it was their defense which ultimately held them back. Both teams ended with 16 hits, but CSU's four errors gave USU more chances to capitalize on mistakes. It was the kind of game where every misstep seemed to compound, and the Rams found themselves playing catch-up for the rest of the contest.
"Our defense was the issue," Brooke Bohlender said. "I think we lost it because of the errors. It'll come down to our defense and making those key plays. We'll clean it up tomorrow and come out on top."
With so much talent at the plate, they knew that tightening up their defense was the key to turning the tide in future games.
Working on the ability to bounce back and learn from those errors is what will make the difference in the long run. The challenge for Fisher is finding the right balance between fostering the competitive spirit of her younger players and guiding them through the inevitable growing pains.
"It's really important to knock out pitchers and stay ahead of the game," Fisher said. "We're constantly looking for the best scout on the pitchers so we can get runs on the board. They did a great job holding us scoreless for three innings, but we've got to trust our training and adapt."
The Aggies' defensive switch proved crucial, with pitcher Denay Smith coming in to pitch 117 pitches and allowing just 11 hits.
Despite the loss, Bohlender remained optimistic about the future of the team.
"I think there's so much opportunity for our team right now," she said. "We're relying on a lot of young players, and they've stepped up consistently in our lineup. They shouldn't feel like freshmen at this point. They've done a great job so far, and they're playing a big role on our team."
As the Rams look ahead, they know the talent is there—they just need to refine the details and find consistency. The offense is capable of putting runs on the board, and the young players have shown they're ready for the challenge.
Taking these lessons into tomorrow's game, the roster remains confident in their capability of turning things around and coming out on top in the next two games.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SMITH, Denay (1-3)
L: Wick, Reagan (7-8)
Batting:
2B: GONZALEZ, G. 1 ; BUNTON, A. 1
3B: FIFITA, A. 1
HR: MATEJ, Grace 1
RBI: FIFITA, A. 2 ; GONZALEZ, G. 1 ; MATEJ, Grace 4 ; ERICKSON, K. 2 ; MEDINA, C. 1 ; SILVA, Tatum 2
Base Running:
RUNS: MARBLE, O. 2 ; GONZALEZ, G. 2 ; MATEJ, Grace 2 ; BUNTON, A. 2 ; PRATT, Kya 2 ; ERICKSON, K. 1 ; TURLINGTON 1 ; SILVA, Tatum 2
SB: SILVA, Tatum 2
HBP: GONZALEZ, G. 1 ; PRATT, Kya 1
Batting:
2B: Stucky, Lauren 1 ; English, Kaylynn 1 ; Hinson, Lindsey 1 ; Nesbit, Olivia 1
HR: Smith, Kyra 1
RBI: English, Kaylynn 2 ; Hinson, Lindsey 1 ; Wilson, Jailey 1 ; Rutherford, Autumn 1 ; Smith, Kyra 3 ; Nesbit, Olivia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stucky, Lauren 1 ; English, Kaylynn 1 ; Hinson, Lindsey 1 ; Wilson, Jailey 2 ; Rutherford, Autumn 1 ; Smith, Kyra 1 ; Poteet-Herrera, Bradie 1 ; COLEMAN, Morgan 1
SB: COLEMAN, Morgan 1
HBP: Wilson, Jailey 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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