GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University softball team dropped a pair of games to the top-ranked school in the nation, Colorado Mesa University, on Sunday afternoon.
The losses were setbacks for the Rangers that post a record of 26-16 overall and 21-9 in RMAC play. The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday.
How It Happened | Game 1: Ana Apodaca provided three hits and drove in the Rangers' lone run in a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Colorado Mesa.
Apodaca went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the game against the nation's top team. She was the only Regis player to record a hit in the series opener.
Apodaca drove in the run after notching a line drive down the left field line in the fifth inning. Her shot down inside the line platted Melissa Heronema for her team-leading 33rd RBI of the year.
Colorado Mesa took an early 1-0 lead and then scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to break the game open. After the Apodaca RB in the fifth,Colorado Mesa extended their lead to 7-1 with two runs in the fifth inning and went on to win the series opener.
The reigning conference pitcher of the week, Logan Losh, posted a 136-pitch effort in the loss. She issued two earned runs and allowed just four earned runs.
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Game Notes: Losh tied her season-high with seven strikeouts. Apodaca was the only Rangers player to post a hit and had a multiple hit game for the 17th time this season. Melissa Heronema extended her stolen base streak and notched the 35th steal of the year.
How It Happened | Game 2: The Rangers held the Mavericks scoreless until the third inning when RU conceded five runs and eventually dropped the contest 10-2 in five innings.
Back-to-back doubles, a single and sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 5-0 for the Mavericks at the end of the third, but the Rangers battled back to score two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a Lauren Hernandez and Allisha Martinez RBI single.
Colorado Mesa retaliated with one run in the fourth and four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning that concluded the game on the 8-run run rule.
Heronema posted a pair of hits in the contest and scored one of the two runs for the Rangers.
Taylor Armitage started the game for RU and lasted four-plus innings, while surrendering eight earned runs. She was lifted in the fifth inning for Rachel Jones.
Game Notes: Heronema was caught stealing for the first time this season in the loss. Armitage stuck out two batters in her start.
Next Up For The Rangers: Both teams return to the diamond on Sunday for a doubleheader series finale. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 11 a.m.
