Denver, Colorado – The Regis University Ranger softball team closed out the final day of the series with the Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners (33-11, 24-6 RMAC) earning a split.  A slow start for the Rangers in the first game that ended after five innings in favor of MSU Denver 9-0 but Regis (26-16, 21-10 RMAC) would not go down without a fight pulling out the second game 11-10 in the ninth inning.

Junior Nicole Aviles (Phoenix, Arizona) started the first game suffering the loss but closed out the second to earn the win and move to an overall record of 17-7 thus far.

In the first game, everything went right for the Roadrunners scoring at least one in each of the five innings to shutout the Rangers.  RU tallied just two hits and could never gain any sort of offensive rhythm.

The second game was a different story, the RMAC battle began early with MSU Denver tallying two to the scoreboard in the opening half inning but the Rangers responded with one of their own to make the score 2-1 after one complete.  This would be the pattern throughout the remainder of the game, the Roadrunners scoring with RU responding.

Big innings for MSU Denver in the third and fourth extended the lead to 6-1 but right on cue Regis put up a five-spot in the bottom half of the fifth to even the score, 6-6.  The Rangers scored off three singles and a clutch double to right center on two outs by senior Rachel Illias (Beaverton, Oregon).

The Roadrunners immediately brought two more across on three hits in the top of the sixth giving the lead back to the visitors, 8-6.  In the bottom of the seventh on two outs and runners on first and second, Illias stepped to the plate to blast another double to center scoring both sophomore Bradey King (Loveland, Colorado) and senior Taylor Wilcox (El Centro, California), 8-8.

The eighth inning proved quiet for both squads.  MSU Denver once again scored two more on two hits but Regis was able to get out of the inning leaving three on base.  Building to a dramatic close in the bottom of the ninth, King reach on base by a walk to advance off a single by sophomore Carlie Sexton (Littleton, Colorado).  This caused a Roadrunner pitching change with Wilcox up to bat.

Wilcox found the gap in left center to score King and advance Sexton.  The big hitter on the day, Illias, was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.  Sophomore Alyssa Finger (Las Vegas, Nevada) recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the score 10-10.

Freshman Delaney McGinn (Arvada, Colorado) struck a hard hit ball just under the glove of the Roadrunner short stop to score Wilcox who was the winning run.  The Rangers tallied nine hits and eight RBI's to take the final game of the series.  Aviles closed out the game pitching the last five innings for RU and tallying four strikeouts.

Regis hosts their final regular season home series on Saturday, April 25 and 26 against Western New Mexico (20-27, 17-19 RMAC).  Game times on Saturday are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.