March 5, 2010

NDSU vs. CSU | UVU vs. CSU

By Tawny Dennis
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Senior Rebecca Penland recorded a .500 average at the plate with a double, home run and six RBI on the first day of the Colorado State Classic. The Rams (9-7) opened the tournament 2-0 after defeating North Dakota State, 3-2, and Utah Valley, 12-3, at Ram Field.

Head Coach Mary Yori was pleased with her team's offensive production throughout the two games.

"Overall, our team fought hard at the plate today," she said. "We hit the ball extremely hard and got the big hits when we needed them."

North Dakota State (8-7) got on the board in the top of the first inning, but Colorado State answered in the bottom half when sophomore Christine Thomsen doubled to right center to plate classmate Jenna Krogh. Krogh singled earlier in the inning and advanced to second on an error.

Penland came through with the game-winning RBIs in the fifth inning, helping CSU claim a 3-2 advantage, their first lead of the game.  The senior singled through the right side to plate junior Caitlan Stem and Krogh.

Sophomore Kelli Eubanks tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five Bison batters. She recorded her seventh complete-game performance of the season and improved to 7-4 on the year.

In the second game of the day, Penland came up big, once again, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored.

She recorded her first RBI of the game in the bottom of the first inning when she doubled to right field to score Stem, who led off the inning with a single.

The Rams broke the game open with a seven-run second inning, jumping out to a 9-0 lead. 

Penland gave Colorado State an 11-0 advantage in the following frame when she homered to right field to score Thomsen.

Utah Valley (3-7) scored three times in the top of the fourth to cut the Rams' lead to 11-3, but Colorado State answered in the bottom half of the inning with a run to grab a 12-3 advantage.

Penland also started in the circle for Colorado State in the second game, tossing a complete-game two hitter. She struck out seven Wolverine batters while picking up her first win of the season.

"Becca came up big for us today at the plate as well as in the circle," Yori added.

The Rams continue the Colorado State Classic on Saturday against Utah State at 11 a.m. MT.  Utah State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and North Dakota State are also in action, with games scheduled at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Ram Field.