TC Colorado tops NY Rise
On a summer afternoon at the Barnes Complex at Fairgrounds Park, it was TC Colorado’s bats that brought the real heat Monday afternoon as they powered past the New York Rise, 6-1, in the Triple Crown Colorado Pro Cup.
It was a day where the hits fell, the pitching settled in, and TC Colorado set the tone for a busy week in the Rockies.
Early Nerves, Early Fire
Ruby Meylan, the talented right-hander from Oklahoma State for TC Colorado, faced off against Chenise Delce from Arkansas for the Rise in a matchup that had the complex buzzing early. TC Colorado wasted no time getting traffic on the bases in the first, with Jess Oakland singling and Taylor Pannell dropping a two-out base hit up the middle, but an inning-ending strikeout kept them off the board.
In the bottom half, the Rise tried to answer, but Meylan kept them quiet, working around a Lauren Lucas walk to keep it scoreless.
That changed in the top of the second when Jackie Lis, the Texas Tech transfer, turned on a pitch and sent it sailing over the left field fence for a solo home run, putting TC Colorado up 1-0. The lead was short-lived as Karli Spaid, from Miami (OH), answered with a blast of her own for the Rise in the bottom half, knotting things at 1-1 and reminding everyone why she’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.
Big Third Inning Breaks It Open for TC Colorado
TC Colorado didn’t flinch after the Rise tied it. Texas Longhorn Reese Atwood led off the third with a single before Pannell worked a walk, and a bloop single by Jenissa Conway loaded the bases for Alex Pupillo. The former college All-American delivered with a two-RBI single to right, and Lis followed with another RBI knock, pushing the lead to 4-1.
It was a statement inning, showing the blend of power and situational hitting that makes this lineup dangerous.
Meanwhile, Maddia Groff, pitcher from Omaha, came in to pitch for TC Colorado and quickly found a rhythm, working around a leadoff single by Clemson Tiger Alex Brown to hold the Rise scoreless.
Rodi’s Rocket Adds Insurance
The Rise switched to Missouri Tiger Laurin Krings in the fifth, but Ari Rodi from South Carolina wasted no time welcoming her to the game, launching a towering solo home run to straightaway center field to extend the lead to 5-1. The TC Colorado dugout erupted, with high-fives and helmet taps all around as Rodi jogged home, her swing leaving no doubt.
On the mound, the TC Colorado bullpen kept dealing, with Texas Tech’s Sam Lincoln tossing a clean fifth and Texas State’s Jessica Mullins taking care of the sixth, working out of a leadoff single by Riley Blampied without damage.
Oakland’s RBI Seals It
In the sixth, Georgia Bulldog Sarah Gordon sparked another rally with a single before Duke Blue Devil Jess Oakland split the gap in left-center for an RBI double, padding the lead to 6-1. Even when the Rise managed a base hit or a moment of momentum, TC Colorado’s pitching staff remained calm, confident, and relentless.
Mullins struck out two in the sixth before handing the ball off for the final frame, where the Rise’s bats went quietly in order, with Sophia Nugent flying out to left before back-to-back strikeouts by Kayla Wedl and Ashley Trierweiler sealed the win for TC Colorado.
Looking Ahead
With the 6-1 win, TC Colorado moves confidently into Tuesday’s doubleheader, taking on the OKC Spark at 10:00 AM and the Florida Vibe at 2:00 PM Mountain Time at Triple Crown Sports – Fort Collins Complex.
The Rise will look to bounce back in their own doubleheader Tuesday, facing the Vibe at 10:00 AM before squaring off with the Spark at 2:00 PM.
Monday afternoon in Loveland, TC Colorado showed exactly why they’re a team to watch in the Pro Cup. With timely hitting, steady pitching, and flashes of power from Lis and Rodi, they handled business against a quality Rise squad. Now, they’ll look to ride that momentum into the Tuesday slate as the Colorado sun and the Pro Cup heat continue to rise.
