DENVER - The Regis University softball team (23-18, 17-9 RMAC) played their second-straight home series in seven days Saturday afternoon as they hosted the ThunderWolves of CSU Pueblo (14-17, 10-16 RMAC). The team was firing on all cylinders - 19 runs and seven strikeouts from the pitching staff propelled the Rangers to a doubleheader sweep.
"Today, it was great to see two full team wins. We had a really good week of practice and focused on things we wanted to see this weekend. They came out and executed that well" said head coach Nicole Thompson.
Game One | How it Happened: Freshman RHP Harpman (W, 12-7) started in the circle in game one for the Rangers.
Regis took the lead, which they never relinquished, in the first inning after freshman Miia Campos' RBI single and a two RBI dinger from graduate student Allisha Martinez.
RU owned a 5-0 advantage after Campos' groundout RBI and sophomore Katherine Raper's solo homer in the third.
The ThunderWolves threatened slightly in the sixth with a pair of runs, but Harpman shook off her only earned run of the game easily, that was the only offense she'd allow in the game.
Finally, in the sixth, the team exploded for five runs, sealing Pueblo's fate. Junior Shayelyn Allen ignited the team with a pinch hit solo home run, putting Regis up 6-2. Then, Campos logged her fourth RBI when she drove in three runs off a massive double to left center. Freshman Rachel Williams' fielder's choice RBI cliched the walk-off mercy win.
"Our defense made some great plays and played big behind our pitchers. Double plays, good foul ball outs and then Rachel (Williams) to end the game with her fielder's choice RBI was awesome."
Game Notes: The Rangers scored ten runs off six hits and had one error.
Campos led in the box with a 2-4 performance and a career-high five RBI. She also nabbed a career-high four putouts.
Martinez was close behind, she went 1-4 and had two RBI.
Raper, Allen and Williams all logged one RBI each.
Raper had a game-high seven putouts while Harpman led with three assists.
Harpman improved her record to 12-7 and fanned four batters. Only one run was marked as earned under her watch.
Game Two | How it Happened: The DH closer saw junior RHP
Abby Covington (W, 4-5) start on the mound for RU.
After falling behind 3-0 in the third inning, the Rangers didn't even think about backing down in the closer. Campos stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning and promptly delivered her seventh RBI of the day after a huge triple to left, scoring Case and sophomore Carryn Leto.
Still in the fifth, Regis took a 4-3 advantage after Martinez's fielder's choice RBI and Williams' two RBI double. But, a two RBI home run from CSU Pueblo in the sixth gave them the lead back.
It was a short-lived lead though, in the home half of the sixth, a bases juiced walk tied the game at 5-5. Then, Martinez delivered a grand slam which really put RU out of reach of the ThunderWolves' claws.
Harpman came in to close the game and secured Regis' 9-5 win.
"Our offense came to life all day. 1-9 produced in key situational ways. We had good quality at bats, moved runners when we needed to and came up with some big swings when we needed it. Miia (Campos) and Allisha (Martinez) had some great timely hits. Now, we fuel this for tomorrow."
Game Notes: The Rangers went off for nine runs off seven hits and had one error.
Martinez tied her career-high five RBI as she was one-for-four in the batter's box.
Campos ended her day with an impressive eight RBI (three in game two).
Raper had a game-high eight putouts.
Campos led both teams with four assists.
Covington allowed just seven hits in the game.
Up Next For The Rangers: The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow for the final doubleheader of the series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. while game two will commence around 1 p.m.
