DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University softball team made quick work of the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets with two back-to-back run rule games.
Due to Black Hills State University being unable to host the series in Spearfish, S.D. due to snow, the Yellow Jackets were the home team for this weekend's series in Denver.
The Rangers (18-14 overall, 15-7 RMAC) defeated the Yellow Jackets (4-18 overall, 4-18 RMAC) in grand offensive fashion in Game One, with 15 hits, and won 14-2 in five innings. Game Two featured one of freshman Vanessa Candito's best starts so far this season and shut BHSU out in six innings, 9-0.
"Today was fun to see things click offensively, defensively and on the mound," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "We came out ready to go and took the momentum all day."
Game One | How It Happened: A lone two-run home run in the bottom of the second would be the only scoring the Yellow Jackets would have in Game One, as the Rangers wasted no time pouring the runs on.
The Rangers scored at least one run in every inning, starting with a RBI single from sophomore infielder Miia Campos to put the first run on the board in the top of the first.
Continuing their scoring rampage was sophomore Rachel Williams who reached on error and was gifted two more runs.
The Yellow Jackets began to chip away at the scoring deficit with a home run over the center field wall to make it, 3-1.
The top half of the third inning all but put the game away for the Rangers as they scored six runs thanks to two singles totaling three RBIs, and a monstrous, three-run home run from freshman outfielder Olivia Wick.
With the score at 9-1, BHSU did not go away quietly as they picked up another run in the bottom half of the third inning.
Up 9-2 in the top of the fourth, the Rangers ensured their seventh run-rule win of the season with a five-run half inning in the top of the fourth highlighted by a two-RBI single from WIck.
Sophomore right-hander Kylie Harpman earned her sixth win of the season after shutting down the Yellow Jacket offense in the bottom of the fifth.
"It was a great day offensively and it happened from everyone in our lineup which was awesome to have," said Thompson. "We had great approaches at the plate, worked the count and then came through with the big hits at the right time."
Game Notes:
Game Two | How It Happened: It was the Candito show in Game Two on Saturday, keeping the Yellow Jacket bats at bay with six strikeouts and only allowing four hits.
Supporting Candito's pitching effort was the Rangers defense who strung together 12 hits for a total of nine runs on the day.
Five different Rangers recorded two hits with senior infielder Shayelyn Allen crushing her third home run of the season over the left field wall.
Campos, Allen, and graduate student infielder Jessi Case also recorded two RBIs each to contribute six of the nine total runs on the day.
"It was a game from Vanessa. She just got better and better as the game went on," said Thompson. "She did a great job keeping them off balance and letting the defense work.
Game Notes:
- Graduate student outfielder Hannah Sisul led the Rangers in walks with two
- Miia Campos scored the most runs for the Rangers with two
Up Next: The Rangers finish out their series against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MT).
