DENVER, Colo.:  Although the 2014 softball has not kicked off with the bang we all imagined, the Rangers have certainly opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with a kick start and a sweep on day one against the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College. 

RU went 2-0 on the day, first defeating FLC 5-0 in game one before bringing out the bats and taking game two 11-6.

The Rangers put up 16 hits throughout both games and 16 runs.  RU tallied five doubles, one triple and two homers on the day.

In game one, junior Britney Lee struck out five and allowed only three hits in seven innings of work in the circle.

The game started slow with the first four innings rushing by with neither team grabbing a run.  Then the Rangers started inching away, snagging one run in the fifth and finishing off the Skyhawks with four runs in the sixth.

In the fifth inning, freshman Bradey King started things off by reaching on an error by the shortstop.  She crossed the plate on a double by senior Sam Talmich to left center.

In the sixth inning, Regis put the ball in play causing three Skyhawks errors and crossing four throughout the inning to go up 5-0 in the game. 

It was a close call in the top of the seventh as FLC put some runners on bases and challenged the Ranger defense, but RU held tough and shut the door, allowing no runs to cross the plate and starting off the day with a big RMAC win for their home opener.

In game two, the game started slow once again.  This time, the Skyhawks put the first run on the board, crossing one in the fourth on a double and single early in the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Regis answered with six runs of their own however on six hits and one error.  Throughout the inning, juniors Rachel Illias and Taylor Wilcox had an RBI while freshman Alyssa Finger drove in two. 

Fort Lewis kept the runs coming with one in the fifth, third in the sixth and another in the seventh as a last attempt, but Regis put in another five in the bottom of the sixth to seal the deal with an 11-6 decision.

In the sixth inning, senior Sam Talmich started things off with a solo homerun and fellow senior Keala Bertulfo sent a two-run shot out later in the inning to keep things moving.  Finger and fellow freshman Kate Lorenz also had a pair of hits to ensure the Ranger runs kept rolling in.

Sophomore Nicole Hull tallied her second victory on the season after striking out one and allowing seven hits and five runs (two earned) in her 5.2 innings of work.  

Fellow sophomore Rachelle Knudson put up her first save of the season after striking out two and allowing only three hits in her 1.1 innings commanding the circle.

On the day, five Rangers had two hits including seniors Shelby Wieman and Sam Talmich, and freshmen Carlie Sexton, Alyssa Finger and Kate Lorenz.  Finger added four RBIs to the scorecards while both Talmich and Bertulfo produced two. 

The Ranger defense was as unreal as their offense with 42 putouts and 23 assists in two games.  At third base, junior Taylor Wilcox denied the Skyhawks with eight assists and three putouts while Talmich tallied 23 total putouts on the day.

Regis and Fort Lewis will meet again tomorrow in another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. on the Regis Softball Field in Denver, Colo.