GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. –  The Regis University softball team started the 2018 RMAC Tournament with a dramatic 10-9 comeback win over the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs on Thursday morning at CMU Softball Field.

The Rangers (36-17) rallied from a six-run deficit to advance to face No. 2 Colorado Christian University on Friday.

How It Happened:  Tori Brown provided the game-winning hit in a four-run sixth inning, while Jaiden Johnson and Ana Apodaca each hit two home runs in a wild come-from-behind win for RU.

Brown knocked in a pair with two outs in the bottom of the sixth that gave the Rangers their first lead of the game. Her single into right capped an inning in which Regis scored two runs on wild pitches.

Johnson, the back-to-back RMAC Player of the Week, blasted a leadoff homer and a two-run shot in a crucial fifth inning. Apodaca provided a two-run home run in the third and a solo homer in the fifth.

The game did not start well for the Rangers, who allowed five runs to UCCS, including a grand slam, before their first turn at bat. All five runs were charged to starting pitcher Taylor Armitage, who settled in to allow only two more hits until she was lifted after 3 ? innings.

Johnson cut into the five-run lead with her fifth leadoff homer of the season. Apodaca made it a 5-3 game with her homer in the third inning.

UCCS responded with another big inning in the fifth inning this time off of Logan Losh, RMAC Pitcher of the Year, who came in as a reliever for just the fourth time this season. The Mountain Lions jumped out to a 9-3 lead and looked posed to take the critical opening round game in the double elimination tournament.

Johnson sparked a three-run fifth inning with her second long ball of the game. Apodaca followed her two batters later with a homer to left center to make it a 9-6 game after five innings.

Losh held UCCS scoreless in the sixth to set up the dramatic rally for Regis.

Delaney McGinn walked to begin the inning and moved to third on an Alisha Martinez base hit. She scored on the first of three miscues in the inning for UCCS. Martinez was lifted for pinch runner Breanna Pearsall, who scored on the second wild pitch of the inning.

A two-out error allowed Melissa Heronema to reach base and kept the inning alive for RU. After Apodaca was hit by a pitch, Brown slapped a single through the right side to bring home Macy Cox and Heronema, which put RU on top, 10-9.

Losh struck out the side in the seventh inning to keep Regis on the north side of the bracket and avoid a must-win game later in the day. She picked up her 20th victory of the year and struck out four batters.

Game Notes: The comeback win was the largest of the season and continued the Rangers'  10-game winning streak. The Rangers hit four home runs for the first time this season. Johnson's two-homer game was the second of the year. Apodaca hit two homers for the first time this season. Emily John recorded a double and scored twice and Martinez posted a two hits.

Next Up For The Rangers: Friday's game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. The Rangers went 3-1 against CCU this season. CCU defeated Adams State, 2-1 on Thursday, to advance.