DENVER - The Regis University softball team (12-8, 8-0 RMAC) claimed the top spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) with their series sweep of the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls (4-12, 2-6 RMAC) Saturday afternoon. Another two run rules inflated the Rangers' win streak to eight-straight on the cold, blustery day at the Regis Softball Field.

"This group was fun to watch this weekend. It is great to see the stuff we have been practicing and working on come to life on the field. We fired from all  cylinders today, and that is how you close out a RMAC series," said Head Coach Nicole Thompson.

Game One | How it Happened: Freshman Kylie Harpman (6-3) got the nod to start in the circle for the Rangers in game three of the series. With the offense behind her, Regis jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first.

Senior Shelby Shepherd's two RBI double and graduate student Allisha Martinez's sac fly would be the first of many runs for RU on the day.

The second inning was extremely productive for Regis - freshman Miia Campos drew a bases loaded walk and a Cowgirl error increased the Rangers' lead to 4-0.

Then, Sophomore Katherine Raper widened gap to 8-0 after she drilled a two RBI double down the left field line. Shepherd followed with yet another two RBI double to make the lead 10-0.

With Shepherd on third, a double steal put RU up 11-0. Finally, senior Jessi Case put the nail in the coffin with a RBI triple.

No runs were scored by either team for the rest of the game - the Rangers secured their second shutout of the weekend.

Game Notes: RU scored 12 runs off 11 hits and had two errors.

Harpman and Raper, who pitched the final two innings, combined for just three hits and five strikeouts.

Raper stood tall in the batter's box as she was a perfect 3-3 and had two RBI. She even had a game-high five putouts.

Shepherd was 2-2 and racked up a career-high four RBI.

Freshman Jordan Simonsgaard was also 2-2 and had two RBI.

Case had a game-high three assists. 

Game Two | How it Happened: Sophomore Megan Loveland (4-4) was on the mound in the closer for Regis.

After Martinez's two RBI homer to start things off in the first inning, Ru started to pour it on NMHU in the third inning. 

Campos' RBI triple put the Rangers up 3-0, but that was only the beginning. Shepherd drew a juiced walk and Simonsgaard had a two RBI single to increase the lead to 6-0.

With the bases loaded again, Case stepped up to the plate and subsequently sent a bomb over the fence for a full count grand slam. 

Back-to-back RBI doubles from Martinez and Raper widened the gap to 12-0 before the third inning finally came to a close. 

But the Cowgirls didn't go down quietly, they scored five runs in the fourth inning, but never really threatened RU. Junior Abby Covington came in to relive Loveland for the final five outs.

In the fifth, Martinez's RBI single put Regis up by eight runs, enacting the run rule and ending the game early.

"Jessi (Case) and Allisha (Martinez) were on fire for us at the plate today, they are tough outs. Our approach at the plate today was to see 1-9. Our pitching staff are doing the little things right on the mound and  Abby (Covington) came through big again when we needed her. Looking forward to riding this momentum into a good week of practice and into our UCCS series."

Game Notes: Regis put up 13 runs off nine hits and had one error.

This is the first time in four years that Regis has swept back-to-back RMAC opponents. In 2018, the Rangers swept Adams State and UCCS in back-to-back four-game series. 

Martinez led at the plate with a 3-3 performance and four RBI.

Case was 1-2 and her grand slam got four RBI.

Sophomore Carryn Leto and Simonsgaard were 2-3 while Simonsgaard had two RBI. 

Raper had another game-high seven putouts and Case again led with four assists.

Up Next For The Rangers: Regis will face the UC - Colorado Springs Mountain Lions (8-6, 6-2) this coming weekend. First pitch is set for Saturday at noon in Colorado Springs. 
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