COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Regis University softball team (9-7, 4-0 RMAC) extended their win-streak to eight by defeating the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs (5-11, 0-4 RMAC) 6-3 and 13-9 on Monday afternoon.
 
How It Happened | Game One: Senior Melissa Heronema and sophomore Analece Apodaca hit back-to-back solo homeruns to left-center and left-field, respectively, to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
 
The Mountain Lions recorded one run on two hits in the bottom of the first. The score remained 2-1 until the third inning when the Rangers added to their lead. Heronema led-off the inning with a successful bunt before advancing to second base for her 15th steal of the season. She then advanced to third base on a fielders' choice and came across to score on an RBI bunt by senior Breana Pearsall.
 
With two outs in the top of the fifth, senior Emily John hit a two-RBI single to center-field, scoring sophomore Jaiden Johnson and junior Macy Cox to stretch the RU lead to 5-1. Johnson reached base on a double down the left-field line and Cox was pinch running for freshman Allisha Martinez who singled to left field.
 
Senior Lauren Hernandez sent a solo shot to left-center, making the score 6-1 in the top of the sixth. UCCS added two more runs to their total in the latter half of the sixth and Regis held on to win 6-3.
 
Game Notes: Heronema led the game with three hits (3-4, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 2 SB). The Rangers managed three homeruns and outhit the Mountain Lions 11-7. John (1-2, 2 RBI) had a game-high two-RBI's.
 
Senior Logan Losh (4-3) recorded the win after pitching a complete game. She retired seven batters on strikes and allowed seven total hits. All three of the Mountain Lions run were earned.
 
How It Happened | Game Two: RU opened the game with a huge first inning, getting four runs on four hits to take a 4-0 lead. Johnson stepped to the plate to lead-off the game and sent a solo homerun to left field on the second pitch she saw.
 
Freshman Tori Brown hit an RBI-single to left field. She stole second base, causing a throwing error by the UCCS catcher allowing Apodaca to score. A single to right-field by senior Delaney McGinn sent Brown home for the fourth run of the inning.
 
Regis was one out away from getting out of the bottom of the first inning, but three hits and a wild pitch allowed the Mountain Lions to tie the game at four.
 
The Ranges added another four runs in the top of the second and gave up one in the bottom half. RU surrendered their lead, giving up four runs on six hits in the third inning to make the score 9-8.
 
A Johnson RBI-double in the fifth tied the game and Heronema hit a two-RBI single, scoring Johnson and Mann, giving Regis an 11-9 advantage.
 
UCCS got just two runners on base through the next three innings, going 3-up 3-down in the sixth and seventh innings. The Rangers added two insurance runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to secure a 13-9 victory.
 
Game Notes: Johnson (3-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B) and Apodaca (3-5, 3 RBI, 1 2B) led RU with three hits apiece. John, McGinn and Martinez all recorded two hits. 11 of the 13 Regis run were batted in and only two batters were struck out.
 
Junior Rachel Jones recorded her first win in a Rangers uniform pitching 2.2 innings and allowing one run on six hits and striking out two batters. Losh closed out the last two innings of the game without giving up a hit and facing just six batters. She forced four groundouts, one pop-fly and one strike out.   
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University softball team will return home to host Colorado School of Mines (9-7, 3-1 RMAC) for a double-header on March 3 beginning at 12:00 p.m.