Softball continues winning ways
The CSU women’s softball team returns home after competing in
the Troy Cox Classic over the weekend. CSU improves on its
impressive start to the season, now at 11-6. In the classic, the
Rams faced tough competition that included 25th-ranked Texas
State.
The classic started Friday with the Rams defeating
Illinois-Chicago by a score of 6-1. Freshman pitcher Jessica
Strickland (4-1) recorded the win, allowing five hits and striking
out three batters, in a complete-game victory. Five Rams had
multi-hit games, junior Steph Roberts and senior Ricki Walker each
recorded three hits. Roberts went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and Walker
hit 3-for-4 with an RBI.
In Friday’s second game, the Rams matched up against probably
their toughest competition yet this season in Texas State. CSU was
held to just three hits early in the game, until the bottom of the
sixth inning when sophomore designated hitter Melanie Laffoon
stepped up to the plate. With two runners on base, Laffoon hit a
deep shot over the right field fence to put the Rams on top for
good. The home run made it 5-3 and capped a come-from-behind
win.
“It feels really good to hit the ball over the fence,” Laffoon
said. “I really do it for my pitchers, because it’s hard for them
out there and I just want to give them something to work with.”
In Saturday’s first game, CSU faced Portland State in a game
that would be decided in the final inning. The Rams used junior
catcher Kerry Farrell’s two-run home run and a three-run inning to
tie the game at 5-5. But in the seventh inning, Portland State
scored on a single to the shortstop to win the game 6-5.
In Saturday’s second game, sophomore pitcher Genevieve Kelly
(2-1) picked up the complete-game victory over New Mexico State.
She struck out six batters and held the Aggies to only three hits
in the 5-0 win.
“Genevieve played really well this weekend, it’s very positive
for her and the team,” said head coach Mari Yori. “The pitching was
definitely better this weekend.”
The Rams offense was again led by Laffoon, as she went 3-for-3
in the game with two RBI’s and two runs scored, including a solo
home run in the second inning. Walker hit her team-leading sixth
double of the year and went 1-for-3 in the game.
On Sunday, the Rams faced Texas State in a rematch of Friday’s
game. Texas State jumped to an early 2-0 lead, with a home run in
the first inning. CSU responded in the fourth, with a solo home run
by Laffoon to cut the lead in half, but that’s as close as the Rams
got. A seventh-inning rally came up short and the Rams lost
2-1.
CSU finished the tournament 3-2, and now has a week off to rest
before its first home stand of the season. The Rams face Utah State
and Southern Utah March 6, 7 and 9 at Rams field.
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