GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Regis University softball team (20-13, 14-4 RMAC) opened play versus the Colorado Mesa Mavericks (23-4, 15-0 RMAC) Saturday afternoon at the CMU Softball Stadium. The opener was an absolute thriller that lasted 10 innings, but a walk-off homer from the home team pushed Mesa past Regis. In the closer, the Rangers were shutout 0-11.
Game One | How it Happened: Freshman RHP
Kylie Harpman (10-5) started in the circle for the Rangers in the weekend opener.
Sophomore Katherine Raper got RU on the board early in the first when she knocked a RBI single to center field. From there, scoring cooled as both Harpman and Ellie Smith were pitching very well.
In fact, Harpman held the Mavericks without a hit until the fourth inning. But in the fourth, Mesa would finally level the score at 1-1 when they drove a run home.
RU had a chance to put CMU early as they scored three runs in the sixth and seventh - freshman Miia Campos slammed a RBI double and freshman Lima Magana scored off a fielder's choice to make the score 3-1, Rangers.
In the seventh, freshman Rachel Williams increased the lead to 4-1 with a RBI single. But Mesa would even the score at 4-4 in their final at-bat, sending the game to extras.
Both teams were struggling to get much offense going until a walk-off three RBI homer from Colorado Mesa gave them the win.
Game Notes: Regis scored four runs off 10 hits and had no errors.
Senior Jessi Case led with a three-for-six performance. She also had a team-high five assists.
Raper was 2-4 and rove in one run. She led the team with 11 putouts.
Senior Carly Beard was 2-3.
Williams and freshman Mia Moore both had a RBI.
Game Two | How it Happened: Junior
Abby Covington (3-2) got the nod to start game two.
Mesa poured it on early in the closer and RU couldn't do much to stop them. After The Mavericks went up 5-0 in the second, sophomore Alexis Kemp came in the circle to try and slow them down.
Later in the third, sophomore Megan Loveland came in to finish the shortened game. However, Mesa didn't show any signs of slowing down. After six more runs were sent home, the game ended after the fifth inning in run rule fashion.
Game Notes: RU had no runs off two hits and had a pair of errors.
Raper and Williams were 1-2 at the plate.
Senior Carly Gray and Case each had a team-high three putouts.
Graduate student Allisha Martinez had a team-high two assists.
Up Next For The Rangers: The two teams will head back to the diamond tomorrow with first pitch slated for 11 a.m.
