Kate Ferraro
kferraro@mscd.edu
Metro’s softball team split their first four preseason games Feb. 7 and 8 against Colorado State University at Pueblo and Fort Hays at Auraria Fields.
After their inaugural season, the Roadrunners lost more than half their team, not from seniority, but for a number of different reasons. Some players chose different majors, while others felt money and school were too great of pressures and didn’t want to do both softball and school. Others said they felt they were far enough along in their softball career and decided to choose a different route.
“I just think a lot of girls last year didn’t understand what Metro softball was all about,” second baseman Sarah Rusch said. “We have a great bunch of girls this year. I think we all blend together more this year, and we’re more friendly. We get along a lot better than last year I think.”
Despite the loss in players, it didn’t affect the outcome of their first two games of the season against CSU-Pueblo.
The Roadrunners jumped on the scoreboard early in the first game when outfielder Kellie Nishikida hit a home run over the right field fence. The solo home run was the only run of the game until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Roadrunners were able to score nine runs in one inning off of three errors from the Thunderwolves. Rusch started off the inning with a walk, followed by a double from first baseman Jennessa Tesone. Tesone, who played third base last season, plays first base half the time when pitcher Corrie Nishikida is pitching, and first base the rest of the time.
“I’ve played first before in the summer so I’m kind of used to that,” Tesone said. “Corrie is such an athlete, when she’s not pitching, she needs to be at third.”
Metro was leading 5-0, when catcher Lauren Hainlen homered to left field, giving them a 7-0 lead. The Roadrunners scored three more runs, before the Thunderwolves finally got on board in the top of the fifth inning. CSU-Pueblo could only score two runs, forcing the mercy rule, giving Metro the 10-2 victory.
Pitcher Christie Robinson earned her first victory as a Roadrunner, allowing only two runs and five hits in five innings. Robinson struck out five and walked four batters.
“She looked really good,” head coach Jennifer Fisher said about Robinson. “She just forces a lot of bad contact, and so she’s hard to really score up.”
Robinson is a transfer from University of Nevada at Las Vegas and likes what she’s seen so far.
“I love it here,” Robinson said. “I love the girls. We’re all really close. The coaches are amazing and the school is awesome as well.”
The Thunderwolves got off to a fast start in the second game of the series, as they posted three runs in the top of the first inning. The Roadrunners answered back quickly as Tesone hit a two-run home run in the third inning, giving Metro a 4-3 advantage. Rusch hit her first grand slam of her college career in the bottom of the fourth.
“It was amazing,” Rusch said. “I can’t really describe it.”
The Roadrunners added two more runs, including a home run from first baseman Jessica Haab, to seal the 13-9 win.
“I think we came out here and showed what we we’re all about,” Robinson said. “Especially offensively, the hitters had a lot of backup and it made a lot of relief for me pitching.”
The Roadrunners lost both games to Fort Hays 4-3 and 12-7 posting a 2-2 record overall in the season so far. Metro will return to action Feb. 20-22 in the RMAC Crossover Tournament in Colorado Springs.
“Our motto this year is ‘no limit,’” Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to proving that, and keeping the energy, keeping the fire, and just really thinking no limit of where we can go.”
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