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Rams Softball Sweep Utes, End Skid
Colorado State ends three-game losing streak.
April 16, 2005 Salt Lake City, Utah. - The Colorado State softball team swept the Utah Utes on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City, Utah to end the Rams' three-game losing streak. The Rams (27-16, 6-4 MWC) defeated the Utes (13-22, 1-7 MWC) 10-4 in game one, followed by a 5-2 game two decision in nine innings. In game one, the Rams fell behind early as the Utes scored three runs in the first and one more in the third to take a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning. That was all the Rams' defense would allow, and the offense quickly brought the team back into the game, scoring in each of the last four innings. The Rams' comeback began in the fourth inning when sophomore Brittany Huerta doubled to left center to lead off. A fly out by freshman Lauren Cusick advanced Huerta to third, and a two-out single by junior Rachelle Padeway scored Huerta. Junior Katie Dean then reached base on a walk, and Padeway scored on an RBI single by senior Stephanie Roberts, to cut the Utes lead to 4-2. The Rams tied the game at four in the fifth inning. Sophomore Jessica Strickland doubled down the left field line, her team record-tying 19th double of the season. After a walk by Huerta, Cusick singled down the left field line to score Strickland. Freshman Julia Kloppe roped a pinch-hit single to left, scoring Huerta to tie the game. Four runs in the sixth inning sealed the game for the Rams. Roberts led off by reaching on an error by the Utah third baseman and moved over to second with no outs. Senior Kerry Farrell doubled with two outs, scoring Roberts, and then advanced to third on a single by Huerta. After Cusick reached base with a walk. Genevieve Kelly then doubled to left center, clearing the bases and giving the Rams an 8-4 lead. The Rams added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning. Junior Jennifer Gardner single up the middle with one out, and an error by the Utah shortstop allowed Strickland to reach base. Gardner scored on a single by Farrell, and Strickland crossed the plate on a single by Huerta to put the Rams ahead 10-4. Kelly (12-7) picked up the win in relief of Strickland. Strickland allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings, but got a no decision in the game. Kelly took over in the fifth inning and shut down the Utah offense, allowing only two hits and striking out two batters in three innings of work. Game two, began as a defensive struggle, as the teams battled to a scoreless tie through five innings. The Rams got on the board first with one run in the top of the sixth inning. Strickland scored on a sacrifice fly by Cusick to give the Rams a 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived however, as the Utes answered with one run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Both teams were shut out in the seventh inning and the game headed to extra innings. In extra innings, the Rams added four runs in the ninth inning to put the game away. Roberts got the Rams started with a one-out double to right center, and advanced to third on an infield single by Gardner. An RBI single by Strickland scored Roberts to break the tie. A single by Farrell loaded the bases, and Cusick delivered with a two-out double to center, scoring Gardner and Strickland. A single by Kelly scored Farrell and gave the Rams a 5-2 victory, as the Utes managed one more run in the bottom of the inning. Kelly (13-7) picked up the win, again in relief of Strickland, who received a no decision. Strickland pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out two batters. Kelly pitched four innings and allowed two runs on four hits, while striking out four batters and earning her second win of the day. Cusick finished the day, 5-for-7 from the plate with four RBI and a run scored to lead the Rams, while Huerta went 4-for-8 with one RBI and three runs scored. The Rams continue conference play next week, taking on New Mexico in
Albuquerque on April, 23 at 1 p.m. MT.
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