DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University softball team took care of business on Friday as they took on the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls in a doubleheader matchup and secured the Day One sweep.
The Rangers (23-17 overall, 20-10 RMAC) shutout the Cowgirls (14-23 overall, 10-19 RMAC), 3-0, in Game One thanks to sophmore right-hander Kylie Harpman holding the NMHU offense to only one hit and keeping them off-balanced with twelve total strikeouts.
The Cowgirls came back and fought hard in Game two, but Regis remained unbeaten on the day, winning Game Two, 5-4.
"This late in the season, getting two conference wins is huge and we will take them anyway we can get them," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson.
Game One | How It Happened: Harpman wasted no time getting to work as the Fort Collins-native struck out the first three batters in NMHU's lineup.
Of all seven innings played, Harpman only had two in which she faced more than three batters.
She struck out the side in the first through third innings, faced four batters in the fourth and fifth innings, then proceeded to slam the door on the Cowgirls, facing a total of six batters in innings six and seven.
The Rangers' offense would only need the bottom of the first to get on the board, as sophomore catcher Rachel Williams put two on the board for the Rangers with a shot over the right field fence.
Tuscon-native Miia Campos added another hit to her resume that found the right center to score graduate student Jessi Case who had reached earlier on a walk.
"Kylie was an absolute dog today on the mound and it was fun to see her get in a rhythm. She helped us gain momentum from the very beginning of the day and she's starting to click at the right time in the season," said Thompson.
Game Notes:
Game Two | How It Happened: A back-and-forth offensive battle culminated in a Rangers' win after both teams recorded at least eight hits in the game.
Williams got Regis' bats going with a single through the right side to score the first run of the game in the first inning. A sacrifice fly from Campos in the second to put the Rangers up, 2-0, through two innings.
The Cowgirls would finally erase the zero on the board in the fourth with an unearned run, but after the bottom of the fourth Regis expanded its lead to 4-1 after a Cowgirl defensive error scored two.
By the end of the sixth, the Rangers had extended their lead to 5-2.
New Mexico Highlands plated two more, and with the tying run at the plate, senior right-hander Abby Covington struck out the final batter to secure the Day One sweep.
Game Notes:
Up Next: The Rangers conclude their four-game series with the Cowgirls on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MT).
"We need to come out with the same energy and focus to be able to capture this much needed weekend series," said Thompson.
