DENVER - The Regis University softball team (10-8, 6-0 RMAC) continued their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) dominance Saturday afternoon as they played host to the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls (4-10, 2-4 RMAC). Regis posted their third-straight shutout in the opener with freshman
Kylie Harpman (5-3) in the circle while the defense secured the team's sixth RMAC victory in the closer.
"Today, we had two big-time team wins! It is great to see this team as a whole come together - I have seen so much growth in this group as well," said Head Coach
Nicole Thompson. "Kylie (Harpman) got us rolling in the first game and our offense was right behind her. We had some big-time hits from Jessi (Case), Miia (Campos), Allisha (Martinez) and Kat (Raper)"
Game One | How it Happened: Senior
Jessi Case and freshman
Miia Campos got RU going by scoring the first two runs of the game in the opening inning.
The Rangers kept the hot hand later in the second when Case's two RBI bomb over the fence made the score 4-0, Regis. Graduate student
Allisha Martinez wanted in on the fun as she matched Case's dinger with one of her own. Another two RBI homer increased their lead to 6-0.
With Harpman still wheelin' and dealin' on the bump, the Rangers were in a good position to run rule the Cowgirls - senior
Shelby Shepherd's sac fly in the fifth put them within one run of doing so.
Finally, Martinez's walk-off double finished off NMHU in the sixth, ending the game at 8-0.
Game Notes: The Rangers scored eight runs off four hits and had no errors.
Harpman pitched her fifth complete game and earned her third shutout of the season. She fanned seven batters and was only credited four hits.
Campos stood tall at the plate and went 2-4.
Martinez was 2-2 and had a season-high four RBI.
Case was 1-1 and had two RBI.
Sophomore
Katherine Raper and freshman
Rachel Williams led RU in putouts with seven apiece.
Game Two | How it Happened: The closer was a bit tighter than Regis would've liked, but the team dug deep and found a way to win down the stretch.
Sophomore
Megan Loveland (4-4) got the nod to start game two for the Rangers. Again, the home team initiated the first blow when Martinez sac flew Case to home plate in the first.
Then, Raper crushed her third home run of the season, putting RU up 2-0.
The Cowgirls finally scored their first runs of the day in the second, tying the game at 2-2, but Regis didn't flinch.
Martinez's second homer of the afternoon put Regis back in front in the third.
Later on in the fifth, RU took a 4-3 lead when freshman
Rachel Williams' RBI double scored Raper.
Another sac fly from
Shelby Shepherd in the sixth inning was the cherry on top for Regis' productive day.
"In the RMAC, second games are always going to be tough, and this group fought together to earn that win. Meg (Loveland) did her job early on the mound and Abby (Covington) came through exactly when we needed her to shut the door. Rachel (Williams) and Mia (Moore) really stepped up big for us when we needed a clutch hit. Then Shelby's (Shepherd) sac fly was perfect situational hitting to help us capture the win."
Game Notes: RU scored five runs off four hits and had just one error in game two.
Martinez was 1-2 in the batter's box and had a game-high two RBI.
Raper was also 1-2 and had one RBI.
Williams was 1-1 and had a RBI.
Loveland got her fourth win of the season and had three strikeouts.
Junior
Abby Covington rang up six batters in just three innings.
Sophomore
Carryn Leto nabbed a career-high 10 putouts.
Up Next For The Rangers: The two squads will be back at it tomorrow in another doubleheader Game times are set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Regis Softball Field.
