COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.:  Regis softball split the day down at UC-Colorado Springs today, losing the first 5-0 to the Mountain Lions before winning 6-2 on 12 hits in the second game.

Sophomore Rachel Illias went 2-3 at the plate while junior Shelby Wieman grabbed a single herself. 

Freshman Nicole Hull (4-9) slung six full innings and picked up the loss after allowing eight hits and five runs, only three of which were earned.  She struck out two in the effort.

Head coach Nicole Trimboli made some offensive changes for the second game, shaking up the Ranger offense enough to accumulate an impressive 12 hits in seven innings of play.

Rangers went up 1-0 in the first on a single to right field by sophomore Taylor Wilcox to score senior Shannon Massine.

UCCS went up 2-1 in the second on a two-run homer to left field, but the Rangers were determined to gain the lead back.

Senior Bre Backlund started things off in the fifth with a ground-rule double to get on base.  She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Massine.  Illias singled to left field to bring Backlund across the plate and even things up 2-2.

Wieman sent a long ball over the center field fence, advancing the score to 3-2 in the Ranger's favor.

Backlund started the seventh with her second ground-rule double of the day and moved around the bases on singles by Massine and Illias.  With the bases loaded, Wieman stood in the box facing her eighth hit by pitch of the season, this one resulting in a run scored. 

Senior Alyssa Beskid singled up the middle later in the inning to cross another run for the Rangers and the team picked up the 6-2 final score as sophomore Sydney Gaffin scored on a wild pitch.

Gaffin (3-12) allowed eight hits, while striking out two in 31 batters faced.

The Rangers will continue the series with the Mountain Lions tomorrow, April 7.  The games will start at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.