Las Vegas, Nevada – In the last tune-up before Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play begins, the Regis University Ranger softball team split in the final day at the Desert Stinger Classic.  The Rangers suffered a slow start falling 10-0 to the Sonoma State Seawolves (6-2, 0-0) in just five innings but bouncing back to blank the Western Oregon Wolves (2-10, 0-0) in six innings 8-0.

In the first game against the Seawolves, who went undefeated on the weekend, Regis struggled both offensively and defensively.  Suffering seven first inning runs immediately dropping RU behind making things that much more difficult to recover when Sonoma State's offensive momentum never seemed to slow down.  The Rangers only had one hit on the game while giving up ten runs on eight hits. 

Regis regrouped to close out their final game against Western Oregon applying the mercy-rule on an 8-0 win.  Junior Nicole Aviles (Phoenix, Arizona) bombed a two-out home run to centerfield to bring sophomore Bradey King (Loveland, Colorado) in from third and give the Rangers a 2-0 lead early in the first.

One run would score in the fourth after two scoreless innings with Regis now leading 3-0. 

Four different Rangers would RBI in the top of the fifth to put the finishing touches on Western Oregon.  Scoring eight runs on just seven hits, Regis was lead by Aviles, senior Taylor Wilcox (El Centro, California), and freshman Melissa Heronema (Westminster, Colorado), all with two RBI's a piece. 

Aviles pitched all five innings recording the win while striking out three batters and allowing just one hit. 

The Rangers move to 5-6 overall and return to Denver for the home opener on Saturday, February 21 hosting New Mexico Highlands (1-3, 0-0).