PUEBLO, Colo. – The Regis University softball team opened up conference play with a split on Saturday as they took on the Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves.
The Rangers (4-8 overall, 1-1 RMAC) fell to the ThunderWolve (6-3 overall, 1-1 RMAC), 3-1, in Game One, but battled back and took Game Two to extras and defeated the host team, 9-7, in a game that went to nine innings. Five different Rangers recorded at least one hit with freshman outfielder Olivia Wick leading the charge with three.
Regis' pitching staff came together in Game Two and showed out with an eight-strikeout performance with junior pitcher Alexis Kemp taking the win and shutting the ThunderWolves out in the final two innings.
"I'm proud of this group for coming back and earning the split on the day. The RMAC is a long marathon and we made the adjustments that were needed to win that second game," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "It was awesome to see this group never give in and keep fighting until we came out on top. That effort took the whole team and we did it."
Game Two | How It Happened: CSU Pueblo got off to a fast start as they plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The ThunderWolves would add an extra in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-0.
In the top of the fifth, freshman infielder Megan Clark got the Rangers' bats going with a double down the left field line followed by a single by fellow freshman Sienna Reed to put runners on first and third.
A timely error by the ThunderWolves scored Lima Magana, who had pinch run for Clark earlier in the inning. Following Magana's run, graduate student infielder Jessi Case earned an RBI after a fielder's choice allowed Reed to score, with the fifth inning finishing at 3-2.
CSU Pueblo added another in the fifth, but the Rangers were far from done.
With Wick doubling, and Clark reaching on a fielder's choice, a timely single through the left side from Reed made it 3-4.
A sacrifice bunt from Isabella Porter pushed Clark to third, and senior infielder Shayelyn Allen recorded her own RBI after a sacrifice fly scored Clark to put the Rangers even with the ThunderWolves, 4-4.
The ThunderWolves would plate another run in the sixth, but sophomore Rachel Williams' second home run of the year would equalize the score yet again.
Another error from the ThunderWolves put sophomore transfer Abby Larsen on the base path with Mia Moore pinch running, and a very timely home run from Wick put the Rangers up, 7-5. CSU Pueblo answered back with another two runs in the bottom of the seventh to push the game into extra innings.
In the top of the ninth inning, with two runners on, Wick singled to right field and recorded the game-winning RBIs for Regis' first conference win of the year.
"The second game started slow offensively, but we got the clutch hits when we needed them," said Thompson. "We had some big time at-bats today. We had the tying home run from Rachel [Williams] and Wick's home run and game-winning double. We also did the small things at the plate that game, passed the bat, drew walks and bunted when we needed."
Game Notes:
Game One | How It Happened:
Four different Rangers recorded at least one hit, but were unable to string together timely hits in Game One as it fell to CSU Pueblo, 3-1.
Sophomore Kylie Harpman recorded seven strikeouts through six innings of work.
Miia Campos and Olivia Wick produced two hits apiece to help bolster the Regis offense, but unfortunately Campos' one run would be the only offensive production.
Up Next: Regis continues its series against the ThunderWolves on Feb. 19, starting at 11 AM.
