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Box Score 2 DENVER, Colo.: The Rangers (6-12, 5-3 RMAC) claimed their fifth consecutive victory with a twin bill sweep of the Mustangs (11-16, 6-8 RMAC) on Sunday at Regis. Senior Nikki Haberkorn and freshman Sydney Gaffin turned in solid performances en route to the four-game series sweep.
Game One – Western New Mexico 8, Regis 9
Freshman right-hander Molly Tyler got the start for Regis in game one. Western New Mexico countered with right-handed junior Arriel Smith.
Freshman catcher
Taylor Wilcox put the Rangers on the board with a two-run home run in the second inning. The long ball was her second in two games and her third of the season.
Freshman
Rachel Illias continued the Regis rally later in the inning. The shortstop sent an RBI triple to the right field wall and later scored on a hit from junior left fielder
Shannon Massine.
The Rangers got after Smith again in the third when Haberkorn launched a two-run homer over the left field wall, extending the Regis lead to 6-0.
Western New Mexico scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning on a home run from senior second baseman Ashly Eichenberger. The Rangers answered with a two-out RBI single from senior right fielder
Cassie Long in the home half.
The Mustangs added two runs in the fifth to put an end to Tyler's outing after 4 1/3 innings. Haberkorn moved from third base to the circle seeking to protect the 7-4 Regis lead.
However, with the bases loaded and only one out, the Mustangs scored four runs on a double and a pair of defensive errors from the Rangers. Western New Mexico took an 8-7 lead after scoring six runs in the fifth inning.
After settling in to keep the Mustangs from scoring again, Haberkorn came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on and a chance to be a hero for the home team. Just as she did in last year's RMAC Championship, Haberkorn delivered a clutch walk-off home run to the opposite field.
"I just wanted a base hit", Haberkorn said. "I pulled one foul pretty far so I knew she was going to put me outside and I was ready for it."
Haberkorn brought home the win for Regis with her second home run of the game. Final totals for the Rangers were nine runs on 14 hits and four errors. The Mustangs scored eight runs on nine hits and two errors in the loss.
Haberkorn (2-7) was credited with the win after working 2 2/3 innings with one run allowed and two strikeouts. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI's. Smith (5-6) took the loss for Western New Mexico after allowing nine runs in six innings.
Wilcox finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore second baseman
Breanna Backlund collected three hits and scored a run in four plate appearances.
Game Two – Western New Mexico 6, Regis 10
Haberkorn returned to the mound for Regis in the nightcap. Sophomore righty Mariah McDonald took the ball for the Mustangs.
The Regis right-hander returned to third base after allowing four runs in two innings. Gaffin came on in relief for the Rangers and was greeted by Mustang right fielder Kale Gahn, who hit a solo home run to give the visitors a 5-0 lead.
Gaffin got revenge in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer in the first at-bat of her collegiate career. She helped her own cause by trimming the Mustang lead to two.
Senior righty Brittney Batten came in to pitch for Western New Mexico in the fourth inning. Massine got after the Mustang reliever with a two-out RBI single and later scored on a base hit from Backlund.
The Mustangs tacked on a run in the fifth to retake a 6-5 lead. Game one starter Arriel Smith returned to the circle in the home half for a rematch with Haberkorn, who came to the plate with speedy pinch runner
Brianna Bogdajeiwcz on first. Haberkorn again won the battle, splitting the left-center field gap to drive in Bogdajeiwcz and tie the score.
RBI hits from junior designated player
Alyssa Beskid and senior first baseman
Maegan Cooley gave the Rangers an 8-6 advantage, forcing the Mustangs to make another pitching change.
The Rangers added a pair of runs in the sixth inning, which was more than enough for Gaffin.
Regis picked up the sweep with 10 runs on 17 hits and three errors. Western New Mexico fell with six runs on 12 hits and one error. The Rangers pushed their winning streak to five games after a shaky start to the season.
"We started realizing our potential," Haberkorn said after going 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two. "We started playing the way we needed to play, at our pace, doing what we need to do."
Gaffin, who finished 1-for-3 with three RBI's, also credited the turnaround to a change in approach. "Sometimes we really want to do well and it ends up working against us, so if we just stay loose and have confidence we do much better."
Gaffin (4-3) earned the win after allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out two in five innings of work. Smith (5-7) allowed three runs and recorded only one out in the loss for Western New Mexico.
Beskid and Massine each picked up three hits in game two. Beskid collected two RBI's and scored two runs, while Massine drove in one and scored a pair of runs as well.
The Rangers will travel to CSU-Pueblo on March 17th for a Saturday doubleheader with RMAC competitors Thunderwolves. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Game two will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m.
By Dylan Docker
