The Colorado State softball program took a step in the right direction after going 2-1 against the University of New Mexico in their most recent series. The Rams now sit at 7-9 on the year. 

Game One

The Lobos came out swinging and scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Fortunately for the Rams, they were picking up some consistent hits of their own, as they looked to battle back. Ashley Michelena led the team with three hits, with one being a crucial single in the third inning that brought in Maya Matsubara for the tying run.

Haley Donaldson and Ashley York also helped to bring in runs en route to the Rams’ victory. Donaldson cracked a double to left field in the fourth inning that brought in Danielle Serna. York was then able to bring around Donaldson with a single.

Jessica Jarecki pitched a complete game and only allowed one earned run on seven hits. Finishing with 131 pitches, Jarecki struck out five and allowed two walks. 

The Rams were able to hold the Lobos to two runs and took game one of the series 3-2. 

Game Two

Offenses started off hot in the first inning of game two — a single to right field got Michelena on base early and she would advance to third after Peyton Allen sent a ball to left field for a double. 

With base runners threatening, Serna was able to bring in Michelena for the first run of the game, despite grounding out to second. The Rams crossed home plate two more times in the first frame of the game after Tara Shadowen singled to center field.

New Mexico attempted to match the offensive intensity of the Rams but was only able to put up one run in the bottom of the first after a wild throw from the Rams saw the Lobos advance home, this would be a crucial score come later in the game.

Unsatisfied with trailing, the Lobos put up four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-3 lead. In the next inning, the Rams answered with a pair of doubles from Serna and Matsubara that ultimately brought two runs in and tied the game up at five runs apiece at the end of the third.

The scoring went quiet for an inning until before the Lobos brought a runner across in the fifth. The Rams tied the game in the top of the seventh by way of another Serna single. As the home team, the Lobos were able to hit a walk-off double with no chance of a Ram redemption to put this one away.  

Taylor Gilmore only pitched 1.2 innings after allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks. The other four runs were all unearned. Serna came in to close out the game and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs.

Game Three

Both teams showed their explosive bats in the final game of the season. Corina Gamboa took care of things for the Rams, notching five runs batted in. Gamboa’s three-run home run to tie the game three all in the second inning was a large part of that.

The Lobos quickly rallied back to score two runs in the second and another in the third to put the Rams down 6-3. Gamboa came to the rescue again and hit her second home run of the day to cut the lead down to two. A string of singles to follow the homer helped the Rams bring in another two runs. The game would remain tied at 6-6 going into the final inning.

After Serna doubled to right to bring home Brooke Polenz, it was only fitting that Gamboa would come back to the plate. Gamboa singled to right to bring Serna home give the Rams an 8-6 lead.

The Rams survived a potential comeback in the seventh inning. The Lobos were able to load the bases, but a Serna strikeout put the game in the win column for the Rams.

Tyler Meguire can be reached at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @TMeguire.