Sticking with the trend

The Rams kicked off their conference season over the weekend by

losing two one-run decisions to San Diego State 2-1 and 3-2 on

Friday in San Diego, but bounced back to take two games in Las

Vegas against UNLV, 5-1 and 7-3 on Sunday.

After starting 0-2 in conference play with Friday’s losses, the

Rams (26-11, 2-2) had a quick start in Las Vegas.

The Rams used an RBI single by senior Ricki Walker and a two-run

double by junior Kerry Farrell in a four-run fifth inning that gave

the Rams a 4-1 lead.

Farrell paced the CSU offense going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while

sophomore Katie Dean went 2-for-2.

Freshman Jessica Strickland (9-3) earned the victory, allowing

one hit and one earned run in four innings of work, while senior

Megan Masser closed it for the save.

The Rams got things going a little quicker in the second game,

as Walker drilled a two-run home run in the top of the first.

Walker then had an RBI single in the third to score Dean. The

Rebels tied the score on a three-run home run by Wendy Godwin in

the fourth inning to make things close.

In the fifth, freshman Brittany Huerta hit her team-leading 10th

home run, a three-run shot, to push the lead to 6-3. She then added

a RBI single in the seventh to score Walker.

Walker went 4-for-4 in the game to lead all Ram hitters. Huerta

and pitcher Genevieve Kelly both contributed with two hits a piece

for the game. Kelly pitched the first three innings of the game

allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three batters.

Strickland came on to finish the game and pick up the win for the

Rams, her second of the day.

“We hit the ball better today,” Kelly said. “We knew what we had

to do for these games which helped.”

In San Diego on Friday, the Rams did not get the breaks they

needed to win two tight contests.

“Both games were really close,” Kelly said. “They could of gone

either way for both teams.”

In the first game, CSU took an early 1-0 lead when Huerta

doubled to center field; she scored when sophomore Jennifer Gardner

singled in the next at-bat. That, however, was the extent to the

Rams’ offense.

CSU took the lead into the sixth inning when the Aztecs pulled

even on a two-out single. Then in the seventh, the Aztecs (25-18,

4-2 MWC) recorded back-to-back doubles to pull off the victory.

Megan Masser (5-3) pitched all seven innings, giving up seven

hits and striking out four in the loss.

In the night game, the Rams spotted the Aztecs three runs to

begin the game.

Their bats finally came alive in the fifth, when Rachel Padeway

and Dean had back-to-back singles. CSU scored two after a SDSU

error. But the two runs were all that the Rams could muster.

Junior Steph Roberts led the way for the Rams going 2-for-3 in

the game while Padeway went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Sophomore pitcher JayCee Wood took the loss to fall to 6-3 on

the season, giving up one earned run.

CSU returns to action on Thursday to face Brigham Young at Rams

Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.