DENVER, Colo. – In a rivalry series against the Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners that always proves competitive until the final out, the Regis University Ranger softball team bounced back from a 4-1 game loss to shutout the home team 4-0 in game two.

The Roadrunners own the overall series record but these two teams always show up against one another as RU outhit Metro State 16-12 through the first day. 

Game 1 - Metro State 4 Regis 1

The Rangers saw the first scoring opportunity early in the first inning as Rachel Illias led off with a double to left field. A sacrifice bunt from Bradey King moved Illias to third but unfortunately, Regis was unable to convert and left the runner stranded.

Back-to-back doubles from MSU-Denver in the bottom half of the first inning gave the home team a 3-0 lead. A double from Carlie Sexton on one out in the second inning gave RU another chance. That double from Sexton moved her into the top ten in the career all-time rankings with 35 thus far.

A base hit from Delaney McGinn moved Sexton to third and Ashley Prescott brought her across with a sacrifice fly to right. Regis still trailed 3-1 but the Roadrunners were within distance. 

RU held Metro State hitless through their next two at bats but left the tying runs stranded at first and second after back-to-back singles from Sexton and McGinn in the top of the fourth.

The Roadrunners were able to sneak one more across plate in the bottom of the sixth on two outs to lead 4-1 over Regis. On two outs, a single to centerfield from Prescott fell short in the Rangers last attempt at a comeback. 

Illias, Sexton and McGinn all went 2-for-3 at the plate with the lone RBI of the game going to Prescott. Nicole Hull registered the loss on the mound pitching through all six innings; her overall record sits at 10-8. 

Game 2 - Regis 4 Metro State 0

Base hits from King in the first and Sexton in the second put runners on base for Regis but once again they were left on base. The Rangers finally capitalized in the top half of the third. The bases sat loaded on one out kicked off by a lead-off single from Emily John followed by Illias' third hit of the day and a Macy Cox single. John with the heads up play, stole home on a wild pitch to give RU a 1-0 lead.

Through the next two innings, Regis forced MSU-Denver to leave three runners on base. A two-hit, three-run top of the fifth pushed the Ranger lead to 4-0. Similar to the third, John led-off with a single and Illias followed that up with her second double of the day to score John and record the RBI.

Michelle Larose came in to pinch run for Illias and came across the plate on an error from the Roadrunner shortstop. King, who reached on a fielder's choice, also scored in the fifth on another wild pitch.

Stellar pitching from Nicole Aviles and the Ranger defense did not allow a single hit throughout the remaining three Metro State at bats to shutout the Roadrunners. Aviles improved to 10-6 overall and notched her fourth shutout of the year as she now sits in fourth for most shutouts in a season. Aviles also gave up just three hits through seven innings pitched. 

Illias went 4-for-7 at the plate for the Rangers tallying two doubles as she currently sits in ninth of the all-time ranks for career doubles with 36, just in front of Sexton. Sexton added a 3-for-6 performance in the box for RU.

The series sits at a split with the deciding games to be played in doubleheader action Sunday, April 10 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.