DENVER, Colo.:  Regis softball comes out of the weekend with two wins and two losses, one each to three-team tournament hosts Metro State and to Western New Mexico. 

Day one proved to be difficult for the Rangers with RU losing both, first 9-1 to Metro State in six innings and then 9-0 to Western NM in five innings.

Regis came out ready in day two however, first putting down WNMU 3-2 in an eight-inning showdown before dropping MSUD 8-6 in seven.

In the first game of the weekend, junior Rachel Illias went 3-3 with one run while freshman Alyssa Finger went 2-3 with one double and an RBI on the day.  Throughout the Rangers only managed six hits against Metro ace Aubrey Maul.

Junior Sydney Gaffin earned the loss after relieving fellow junior Britney Lee.  In 2.1 innings of work, Gaffin allowed six hits and two earned runs after 13 batters faced.  Lee allowed four hits and six earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.

In the second game, junior Taylor Wilcox put in a perfect 2-2 performance at the plate while senior Shelby Wieman had one hit from the box.  The Rangers were shut down rather hard offensively.  Although Regis only had two strikeouts in the game, the women only managed three hits in game two.

Sophomore Rachelle Knudson received the loss after 1.1 innings of work, allowing four hits and three earned runs in nine batters faced.  Fellow sophomore Nicole Hull started the game off and was good through 3.2 innings pitched, allowing three hits and six earned runs while striking out four.

Day two was a whole new ballgame so to speak with the Rangers going 2-0 on the day.  RU first defeated Western State 3-2 in eight innings and then Metro State 8-6 in a straight seven-inning game.

Gaffin garnered the win for game one on the day, coming in for the final two innings and allowing one hit in eight batters.  Lee started the day with six innings pitched, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out six.

Against the Mustangs, RU scored first in the second inning after senior Keala Bertulfo singled to center field and Finger continued the inning by reaching on an error by the right fielder.  Wieman then knocked a liner down the right field line with two outs, scoring both of her teammates for two RBIs.

Western answered those runs with two of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning, extending the game into extra innings. 

In the top of the eighth, Wieman started things off for the Rangers reaching on a fielder's choice that put freshman Kate Lorenz out on the play.  Freshman Bradey King then stepped up and doubled to center field to score Wieman before the Mustangs sat the Rangers down.

Regis then ended the bottom of the frame allowing Western three at bats and three straight outs.

Game two on the second day proved to be in the Rangers' favor as well as Regis took the game 8-6 in seven innings. 

Regis came out with their sticks hot, crossing three runs in the first inning and allowing the Roadrunners only one to match.  With a 3-1 lead, the Rangers gave up two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to put Metro ahead by one in the fifth.

The Rangers then crossed three runs in the top of the sixth inning to snag the lead yet again, but in the bottom of the frame, MSUD crossed two runs to tie the game. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Finger knocked out a two-run homerun to give the Rangers the advantage.  Regis then shut down the Roadrunners in the bottom of the frame to close out the RMAC contest with a big win over cross-town rivals Metro State.

Hull, Knudson and Lee all split time in the circle with Hull leading the battery for the first 4.2 innings.  The sophomore allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits while striking out two.  Knudson came in for 1.1 innings of relief, allowing only two earned runs on two hits.  Lee closed out the game, shutting down the Roadrunners in four batters in the bottom of the seventh inning.

On the day, both Bertulfo and Finger had four hits, three runs, three RBIs, two doubles and one homerun.  Illias, Wilcox, Wieman and junior Brianna Bogdajewicz all had two hits on the day.  Wieman also had two RBIs while Wilcox was good for a double.

Next weekend, the Rangers will return home to take on RMAC opponent Colorado School of Mines on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23. 

On Sunday, Regis will host the Ranger Block Party as three spring sports will be home.  Baseball, softball and lacrosse will all be competing in RMAC events and there will be a food and beverage area located behind center field of the baseball field.