ALAMOSA, Colo. – In the final day of the regular season, the Regis University softball team took care of business against Adams State University on Saturday, taking both games on Day Two and securing another series win.
The Rangers (31-23 overall, 28-16 RMAC) took Game One with their seventh shutout of the year, 3-0, and proceeded to take Game Two, 9-1, ending their regular season with their tenth run-rule win of the year.
"Today was big time for this group and I couldn't be more proud," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "To grind all the way to the last game of the conference season is so tough and this team came out ready to go today."
Of the players that were the most ready, sophomore right-hander Kylie Harpman appeared in her first back-to-back starts of the season, and was lights out for the Rangers. Harpman finished the day with 10 strikeouts, seven hits, one walk, and only one earned run in 12 innings of work.
"Kylie was an animal today. To pitch 12 innings and only give up one earned run was huge and really set the tone for us and helped get our offense going," said Thompson. "She has been a huge reason for our success this year and today just showed how much she wants to grind for this team."
Game One | How It Happened: With at least four Rangers getting on base safely through the third, junior designated hitter Katherine Raper pushed the first of three runners across thanks to a single up the middle.
After the Rangers scored one in the fourth, Harpman settled in and prevented the Grizzlies from getting any more than two runners on board from the fifth to the seventh innings.
In the top of the seventh, a single from sophomore infielder Miia Campos scored the second run for the Rangers. A double from sophomore catcher Rachel Williams scored the third and final run of the game.
Game Notes:
- Shayelyn Allen led all Rangers in hits with three
- Kylie Harpman issued only one walk and finished with five strikeouts
- Rachel Williams' double is the 13th on the season, a career-high in single-season doubles for the sophomore as well as ranking 17th in program history
Game Two | How It Happened: The finale of the four-game series was nothing short of explosive as the Rangers scored at least one run in every inning but the second.
Graduate student Jessi Case scored first for Regis in the top of the first following a wild pitch. The most impactful Ranger offensively was Campos, she went 2-for-3 on the day with a single, a triple, and a total of three RBIs.
It was Campos' triple that helped jumpstart the top of the sixth inning, scoring two of the final four runs the Rangers needed for the 9-1 run-rule.
"[Miia] Campos is a true competitor and someone who absolutely grinds. She's a big reason why we are in the place we are. She is a solid player that we can count on in our lineup," said Thompson.
Game Notes:
Up Next: The Rangers start RMAC Tournament play next Thursday and will be the No. 3 seed. Official RMAC Tournament bracket will be released by the conference on Monday.
"Getting that No. 3 seed made today's wins even bigger. We have worked very hard all year long to get to this spot and this group deserves it," said Thompson. "We will celebrate tonight on the bus ride home as the team is clicking at the right time, but then it's back to work."
