Softball team strikes ThunderWolves to 2 wins

The Chadron State Eagles split four games against conference-rival Colorado State University—Pueblo, this weekend.

The Eagles won the first game of the weekend to the tune of 6-1.

Taylor Bauer, freshman of Rapid City, S.D., and Shea Graham, sophomore of Colorado Springs, started the show for the Eagles with back-to-back hits, which allowed Bauer to reach home on a Pueblo error.

Kylee Polsley, senior from Omaha, struck out hitters at the bottom of the second, third, and fourth innings.

At the top of the fifth inning, the Eagles found a spark in a solo home run by Katie Londo, senior from Colorado Springs. Katelyn Kruger, sophomore of Highlands Ranch, Colo., reached on a walk, and Zoe Humpries, freshman from Arvada, Colo., took her base when she was hit by a pitch.

She hit a three-run shot over the fence to put the Eagles up for good, assisted by a complete-game pitched by Polsley.

The second game of the double-header was a different story; Pueblo jumped to an early lead by scoring six runs in the first two innings, and the Eagles were never able to recover, eventually losing 10-3.

Sarah Knudsen, senior of Parker, Colo., fueled a rally in the fourth inning with a double, and two more doubles by Rebecca Wetsch, junior of Erie, Colo., and Caroline Johnson, sophomore of Firestone, Colo. However, an error by CSC in the sixth inning led to four runs, sealing the win for Pueblo.

Pueblo also won the first game on Sunday, with a score of 7-4.

Pueblo scored five runs in the first three innings, including two home runs. The Eagles were never able to take back the lead, thanks to pitching from Pueblo’s Samantha Avii, senior of San Diego, who allowed only five hits and racked up five strikeouts.

After losing two straight to the ThunderWolves, the Eagles responded strongly in the final game and came home with a 4-0 shutout to end the weekend.

Knudsen slammed a homer to put the Eagles up top in the first inning, and marked a hit in the fourth to bring Graham home. Graham also had a double in the fourth inning, which scored Johnson.

The Eagles offense was complemented by their strong defense and pitching by Aryn Grywusiewicz, senior from Denver. Grywusiewicz pitched a complete shutout game.

CSC will host New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, in two double-headers this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Saturday.