Metro
Insight
Metrospective
audiofiles
Sports
Photo Gallery
Archives

Other Areas
About Us
Staff
Contact MetOnline
Job Application
(PDF File 665K)
Advertising Information
Place Classifieds

Departments
Office of Student Media
Met Report
Met Radio
Metrosphere
Student Handbook

Home > Sports

Metro takes two from ’Wolves

By Kate Ferraro
kferraro@mscd.edu

Metro softball split a four-game series against CSU-Pueblo March 15 and 16 at Rawlings Complex in Pueblo.

For the third series in a row, the Roadrunners weren’t able to make it past the .500 mark and win a series.

Metro gave up the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, 8-2. Pitcher Libby Balogh started the series on the mound, but was relieved in the fifth inning after giving up nine hits and six earned runs.

The offense struggled against Thunderwolves pitcher Kelsey Swanberg, who held the ’Runners to two runs on two hits while recording six strikeouts.

“We didn’t hit the ball as well as wanted in that first game,” Metro head coach Jennifer Fisher. “That Swanberg is a good pitcher.”

The Roadrunners responded well to the first game loss with an astonishing 10-8 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. Shortstop Amber Roundtree was 4-for-5, driving in two runs, including the game winning double in the top of the final inning. Pitcher Jessica Fisher pitched a complete game, improving her record to 5-6 this season.

“We made some really good adjustments,” Fisher said on her team pounding out 10 runs on 17 hits. “I felt like we were a lot more aggressive at the plate.”

Metro took advantage of the run rule in the first game on Sunday winning easily 14-6 in five innings. It was the second time this season that Metro forced the mercy rule on the opposing team. The Roadrunners exploded for 12 hits including two home runs and four RBI from designated hitter Ashley Johnson. Johnson now has eight home runs on the season.

Metro leads the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in home runs with 40, Western New Mexico is second with 25, but the reason that has kept the new softball program in the middle of the conference is the lack of baserunners when the long ball is hit.

“I think that has a lot to do with it,” Fisher said. “I think home runs hurt a lot more when you got runners on. I do think we need to be more consistent with on-base percentage. So we just need to get on base any way we can and make those home runs hurt a little more.”

Metro took control in the second game with an 8-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Balogh started the game, pitching six innings, and giving up seven runs. Fisher replaced Balogh in the seventh before the ‘Runners made two errors and threw two wild pitches in a row, handing over a 9-8 win to the Thunderwolves.

“I felt bad for the team because they worked really hard and played really well. We just didn’t finish a couple of plays,” Fisher said.

The Roadrunners moved to 12- 11 overall, 8-6 in the RMAC, staying just above .500. Metro will return home and host a four-game series against New Mexico Highlands on March 21 and 22.

The Cowgirls are 2-10 in the conference, and it is a chance for Metro to improve upon their record. Fisher isn’t ready to call these games must wins, but she understands her team can take the opportunity to win when they are handed the chance.

“I don’t think we need to start thinking that way,” Fisher said when asked if the upcoming series were must-wins. “But our conference is tough, and we can’t take any game for granted.