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Rams Sweep Lobos to Open MWC Play Strickland picked up two wins for the Rams on the day.
April 1, 2006
The Colorado State University softball team improved to 21-9 (2-0 MWC) with a conference-opening double header sweep of New Mexico in Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon. The Rams beat the Lobos by a final of 12-7 in game one, followed by a 9-3 game-two decision. It is the second-straight season in which the Rams have started conference play with a 2-0 record. The game one victory was the 600th win in the program's history. In game one, the Rams notched runs in every inning but the first en route to a season-high tying 12 scores. Sophomores Julia Kloppe and Lauren Cusick gave the Rams an early advantage. Kloppe homered in the top of the second inning to give the Rams a 2-0 lead and Cusick singled in senior Tara Harbert in the top of the third inning. Kloppe plated two more runs for the Rams in the fifth inning with a double to give the Rams a 5-0 lead. The Lobos cut the margin to just one with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, and after a fifth inning RBI-double by freshman Kim Klabough and an RBI-single by sophomore Brittany Huerta for the Rams, the Lobos tied the game at seven with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. That was all the Rams' defense allowed, as Colorado State bounced back with two runs in the sixth, on an error by New Mexico senior Kristina Schmallen, and three in the seventh to seal the victory. Cusick led the Rams in the opening contest, hitting 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Kloppe also hit 2-for-4 in the game, scoring once and knocking in three runs.
Strickland (9-7) picked up the win in relief of Klabough. Klabough pitched four innings, allowing seven runs on four hits and striking out one batter. Strickland shutout the Lobos in three innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two. In the second game, Stacey Leigh provided the spark for the Rams' offense in the 9-3 victory. The junior catcher posted a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, with two homers and four RBI. Leigh flexed her muscle early in the contest with a two-run shot in the top of the first inning. She added another RBI in the fifth inning, doubling in Cusick to give the Rams a 4-1 lead. The Lobos added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the CSU advantage to 4-3, but the Rams responded with five runs in final frame. Leigh led off the seventh with a solo homer. Klabough scored on a passed ball and freshman Renee Welty singled in senior Katie Dean with one out. After a pitching change for the Lobos, freshman Shannon Causgrove knocked a two-run homer to give the Rams the 9-3 win. Leigh's two homers give her seven on the season which ranks second on the team behind Strickland. Causgrove's long ball was her second. Strickland started game two and picked up the win allowing three runs on six hits and striking out three batters in five innings. Klabough pitched two innings in relief of strickland and allowed three hits while fanning one. Next up, the Rams ride their six-game winning streak into Las Vegas for a twin-bill with UNLV on April 7, followed by a double header at San Diego State on April 9. |
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