Tucson, Ariz. – In the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, the Regis University Ranger softball team faced off against the Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners (4-2, 0-0), fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent, in a non-conference game and the Texas Woman's Pioneers (1-5, 0-0). 

The early morning silver bracket semifinal game against the Roadrunners did not lack action and scoring as the Rangers fell 9-8.  Regis then turned around and beat for the second time this tournament the Pioneers 8-5.  Their first meeting required extra innings but the Rangers came out ahead, 6-5 after eight innings. 

In the first game against Metro State, the first inning was just a warm-up for both teams as the second inning proved exciting when the Roadrunners tallied six runs and the Rangers almost matching that with five of their own.  RU held MSU Denver scoreless in the third while sophomore Bradey King (Loveland, Colorado) tripled on two-outs to score two unearned runs and take a 7-6 lead.

It was not until the top of the sixth that the Roadrunners tied the score 7-7 but once again the Rangers responded when freshman Delaney McGinn (Arvada, Colorado) brought senior Taylor Wilcox (El Centro, California) around off a single to center.  Unfortunately, MSU Denver would eventually cross two more over the plate and RU could not match falling in the non-conference battle.

Junior pitcher Nicole Hull (Westminster, Colorado) recorded the loss pitching 5.1 innings and tallying three strikeouts facing 27 batters.

In the second game against Texas Woman's, the Pioneers got on the scoreboard early in the bottom of the first scoring three, two earned and one unearned.  Junior Nicole Aviles (Phoenix, Arizona) doubled to score Hull who reached base on error to get the Rangers on the scoreboard in the second.  A big third inning for RU brought five across the plate to take control of a 6-3 lead followed by a strong top of the sixth.  Regis scored two more off four hits to seal the 8-5 victory. 

Aviles tallies the win pitching all seven innings and recording eight stikeouts in facing 31 batters.

The Rangers move to 3-3 overall after the opening weekend and travel to Las Vegas, Nevada February 13-15 to play in the MSU-Billings Desert Stinger Classic.  Their first game is on Friday, February 13 at 3 p.m. against Augustana (SD).