DENVER, Colo. - The No. 12 Metro State softball team swept Colorado State-Pueblo in a softball doubleheader on Friday at Auraria Field in Denver, winning game one 9-6 and game two 4-2. With the wins, the Roadrunners improved to 28-6 overall and 21-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Thunderwolves dropped to 20-12 overall and 14-8 in the RMAC.
Game 1: Kellie Nishikida had three of Metro State's 13 hits in game one to lead the offense, including two bunts singles. Corrie Nishikida, Danni Hedstrom and Jessica Haab each had two hits as well. Tara Mickelson blasted her team-leading 10th home run of the season in the win.
Christie Robinson pitched all seven innings to earn the victory.
CSUP took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second after consecutive singles by Desiree Carrillo and Katie Johnson, followed by a two-run double by Janine Tyler.
The Roadrunners answered back with a solo home run by Mickelson to lead off the bottom of the second. Hedstrom then scored when CSUP's center fielder misplayed Lauren Hainlen's single.
Justine Bosio put the Thunderwolves ahead 4-2 with a two-run home run in the third, but again Metro State tied the game on a two-run double to right-center by Hedstrom, scoring Corrie Nishikida and Jennessa Tesone.
The Roadrunners scored three more in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. Jessica Haab led off with a single. After Amber Roundtree was hit by a pitch, Kellie Nishikida's bunt single past the pitcher allowed Haab to score from second in an unusual play. Roundtree scored on a throwing error when Nishikida stole second base. Nishikida later scored on a sacrifice fly by Tesone.
Metro State scored its final two runs in the sixth as Haab, Roundtree and Nishikida led off with three consecutive base hits to start the inning. Both runs scored on a sacrifice fly by Sarah Rusch as the right fielder dropped the fly ball at the fence.
Game 2: Freshman Brittany Moss allowed just five hits in six innings, while striking out eight to earn the victory. She out-dueled Kelsey Swanberg from CSU-Pueblo, who also allowed just five hits and two earned runs. Christie Robinson pitched the final three outs to earn the save for the Roadrunners.
Kellie Nishikida and Tara Mickelson each had two of Metro State's five hits. Jessica Haab had the other. Mickelson also added her 11th home run of the season.
The Roadrunners scored two unearned runs in the first inning on a two-out single to left by Mickelson scored Amber Roundtree and Nishikida.
Both pitchers then cruised until the fifth. CSUP's Justine Bosio hit a one-out home run that hit the top of the fence and bounced over in right-center field in the fifth to get a rally started. Moss then walked Lindsey Marmolejo. Following a strikeout, Katie Johnson doubled to left to put runners on second and third. Justine Tyler then ripped a single up the middle to score Marmolejo, but a strong throw in from Nishikida in center field held Johnson at third.
Metro State took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning. After Jessica Haab hit a one-out single, pinch runner Nicole Young scored two batters later on a single to left by Nishikida.
Mickelson added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on her home run down the left field line to put Metro State ahead 4-2.
After allowing a leadoff single in the seventh, Moss surrendered to Robinson. The junior induced a 1-6-3 double play just three pitches in. After allowing a base hit to Johnson, Robinson got Janine Tyler to ground out to second to end the game.
Metro State is scheduled to host Adams State for a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. CSU-Pueblo is set to play Regis in another doubleheader at 9 a.m. All four games are set to take place at Auraria Field, weather permitting (Denver is under a Winter Storm Warning for Saturday).
