DENVER – Chadron State softball went toe-to-toe with one of the RMAC's top contenders, leaning on a shutout from
Brynn Trujillo to beat MSU Denver 3-0 in eight innings in game one before a late rally fell short in a 5-3 game two loss.
The Eagles (4-23, 4-14 RMAC) snapped what had been a 10-game win streak for the Roadrunners (21-7, 14-4 RMAC) with the victory in the opener of a four-game series between the two teams.
Trujillo matched zeroes with MSU Denver's Natalie Romero, a Second Team All-RMAC pitcher, for seven complete innings, then shut down the Roadrunners in the eighth after CSC scored three runs in the initial extra frame to take the lead.
The freshman won just her second collegiate game by holding a Roadrunner offense that entered play ranking second in the RMAC in batting average to just three hits while walking only one and striking out seven.
Trujillo had multiple baserunners on in just two innings, including the first. After an error, stolen base and flyout gave MSU Denver a runner on third with only one out, Trujillo struck out Cheyenne Prieto, the RMAC leader in batting average, then worked around a two-out walk to induce a flyout and end the inning, setting the tone for what was to come.
Trujillo retired seven straight between the second and fourth innings and set down 10 of the last 11 batters she faced to end the game, with only a two-out hit-by-pitch in the eighth inning breaking that streak.
Romero was also dominant against the Eagle lineup through regulation. The Eagles managed one hit in each of the first three innings, but didn't record one in the fourth through the seventh innings.
Chadron State found a way to solve Romero in the eighth inning. With one out,
Elia DeLozier drew a walk and
Charley Pitrat singled. A fielder's choice gave MSU Denver a second out but advanced DeLozier to third and put the speedy
Macie Selfors on first base.
Elizabeth Thorngren came through with the big hit, doubling over the left fielder's head and short-hopping the wall for a two-run double and the first runs of the ballgame. With the hit, Thorngren became the first CSC player to reach 10 RBI in the 2026 season.
The Eagles weren't done, as
Tiffani Mein soon doubled down the right field line to score Thorngren and add an extra insurance run. That was more than enough for Trujillo, who only allowed the two-out hit batter before the final hitter lined out to
Brogan Allen at first base to end the game.
In game two, CSC struck first three batters into the game.
Macie Selfors led off with a single, Thorngren sacrifice bunted her over to second and
Brogan Allen came through with a base hit up the middle to score Selfors and give Chadron State a 1-0 lead.
MSU Denver answered with a run in the bottom of the first and took the lead with two unearned runs in the second. The Roadrunners tacked on with a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI single in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.
The home team seemed in good position to win before the Eagles made things interesting late with a strong offensive seventh inning. With one out, Chadron State got multiple runners on courtesy of back-to-back singles from
Katelynn Czerpak and
Izzy Thomas.
Charley Pitrat, who had struck out in her previous three at-bats against MSU Denver starter Kianna Butler, made the adjustment and singled home Czerpak, moving Thomas to third and chasing Butler from the game.
Against reliever Samantha Mader,
Macie Selfors bounced into a fielder's choice that brought home another run, cutting it to a two-run game at 5-3.
Elizabeth Thorngren stepped to the plate as the tying run with an opportunity for a massive hit for the second game in a row, but the CSC left fielder flied out.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday for more games, with game one scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
