Disclaimer: Due to inclement weather in the forecast, Nevada will conclude its series against Colorado State on Saturday with a doubleheader.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Nevada softball team opened up its 2018 conference slate with a narrow 4-3 loss to the Colorado State Rams (14-6, 1-0 MW). Heading into Saturday's matchup, the Wolf Pack sits at 11-13 on the season and 0-1 in Mountain West play.
On the day, freshman
Lauren Gutierrez recorded the first home run of her career to spark the Pack's offense in the third inning. In the circle, freshman
Julia Jensen tossed yet another complete game, throwing 9.1 innings and striking out a total of six batters in the process.
The Rams jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Nevada's offense posted by posting a three spot on the scoreboard, which was ignited by Gutierrez's solo shot to lead off the inning. After Nevada's first three batters reached base to begin the third, sophomore
Kenzi Goins brought home sophomore
Sadaria McAlister from the third to give the Pack a one-run lead.
With sophomore
Kwynn Warner now on second, senior
Erika Hansen stepped up to the plate and launched a double to centerfield to bring around Warner and push Nevada's lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, the Rams responded with a run of their own to cut the Pack's advantage to just one run.
Nevada's high-octane offense went quiet over the next six innings, as Colorado State tied the score at three to extend the game into extras. The top of the 10
th saw the Wolf Pack threaten to take the lead once again, with Nevada putting runners on second and third with one out inning but the Pack failed to score.
Colorado State led off the bottom of the 10
th with a single up the middle and after a stolen base, the Rams used a base hit to win the game in extras, 4-3. Nevada will conclude its conference-opening series on Saturday with a doubleheader against Colorado State. The first contest is slated for 11 a.m. PT, with the second game scheduled to begin approximately 30 minutes after.
