DENVER - The Regis University softball team (2-2, 0-0 RMAC) wrapped up their Opening Weekend by hosting the Fort Hays State Tigers (1-3) on Sunday afternoon. The previous day, Regis split their doubleheader with the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks to open the season. Today, the Rangers got behind early in the opener, but amended things in the closer to earn another split.
Game One | How it Happened: With freshman P
Kylie Harpman in the circle for Regis, Fort Hays State jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings. Up 2-0, a grand slam in the second put RU in the early 6-0 hole.
But an explosive five-run second inning put the Rangers right back in the game. Senior
Jessi Case made the score 5-6 when she hit a three RBI bomb over the fence, deflating the Tigers' lead to just one run.
FHSU added a run in the fourth, but Regis matched it when Case and freshman
Mia Moore scored on a Tiger error, locking the score at 7-7.
Fort Hays scored in the fifth then added two more runs on junior relief pitcher
Abby Covington in the sixth. Regis put up one more run in the sixth, but it wasn't quite enough to finish the comeback. RU fell 8-10 in the opener.
Game Notes: Case led Regis at the plate by going 3-4 and nabbed a team-high four RBI.
Sophomore
Katherine Raper was close behind as she went 2-4 and scored once. She also had eight putouts.
Senior
Carly Beard led Regis with nine putouts.
Sophomore
Victoria McMains had a game-high three assists.
Harpman (0-1) rang up six batters through 4.1 innings and 18 at bats.
Covington closed 2.2 innings of work with two hits and no earned runs.
Game Two | How it Happened: The bats were not quite as hot in the closer, but it was just as fun for the fans at the Regis Softball Field. Freshman
Rachel Williams got Regis on the board in the second when she scored off Moore's single.
Following that in the same inning, RU went up 4-0 after Case hit her third homer (three RBI) of the evening.
FHSU scored two runs on Loveland, but sophomore
Katherine Raper came in to finish off the Tigers. Regis took their second victory of the weekend by a margin of 4-2.
Game Notes: Williams led the Rangers at the plate with a 2-3 performance.
Case, Raper, Moore and graduate student
Allisha Martinez were the other Rangers to record a hit in the affair.
Case led again with three RBI.
Raper led Regis in putouts with nine while freshman
Miia Campos had a team-high four assists.
Raper had three strikeouts in just two innings while Loveland (1-0) earned the win.
Up Next For The Rangers: RU will have some time to prepare for the Desert Stinger Classic in Tucson, Ariz.. Regis will kick the tournament off in a date with Chico State (4-1) on Feb. 11. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
