DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University softball team put up a total of 30 runs on Saturday to secure the sweep on Day One against the Adams State University Grizzlies.
The Rangers (10-6 overall, 6-0 RMAC) exploded for 11 runs in Game One, and scored a staggering 19 runs in Game Two against the Grizzlies (2-13 overall, 0-6 RMAC). Both wins came as five-inning run rules for a total of three on the season.
"I'm really proud of this group. I just love our confidence right now at the plate and it really doesn't matter what pitcher we're seeing," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "It's really cool to see one through nine and especially our young guys, get that confidence early in the season, and then have our returners be swinging as well as they are."
GAME ONE | HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rangers scored at least one run in every inning but the second while a four-run fourth inning put the game away for the Rangers as they led 9-1 going into the fifth.
The Grizzlies answered with a run of their own in the top of the fifth, but the Rangers answered back with two more of their own to force the run rule.
Junior right-hander Kylie Harpman earned the start and gave up only three runs on three hits while striking out two and threw a miniscule 45 pitches, averaging nine pitches per inning.
"When you can limit the other side of the scoreboard and have our side be as big as it is, that always helps us," Thompson said. "We still need to fine tune some things with them, and especially our defense so they can help our pitching staff but when the pitchers are on and they locate well, it's hard to square them up. I'm proud of them for getting out here and limiting the big innings and keeping our momentum."
Coming up big in the first game was junior utility Rachel Williams with a three-run blast down the right field line to jumpstart the Rangers' offense. The third-year finished with four total RBIs in Game One.
GAME NOTES
GAME TWO | HOW IT HAPPENED
11 runs in the first game wasn't enough for Regis as they took advantage of the Grizzlies pitching staff and scored 19 runs, which ties for fifth all-time in single game runs.
The Rangers secured the run-rule win in the bottom of the fourth with nine runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Campos scored the 13th run for the Rangers to force the run rule, while freshman utility Sydney Young slammed the door shut on the Grizzlies with a grand slam.
"We knew we recruited her that she was going to be a bat in our lineup that was going to be a big impact and boy has she. That kind of put the nail in the coffin and that's the kind of thing we talk about, anyone through this lineup can hit that ball out, but to have that and keep the throttle down and stay intentional is huge," Thompson said. "It's been awesome to see her explode the way she has already as a freshman in her young career."
Young's home run wasn't the only one of the game, as the Rangers hit a total of three on the day. Junior infielder Morgan Norris hit her second home run of the season while junior utility Abby Larsen also hit her second home run of the season.
"Morgan's home run, I mean, that smacked the scoreboard. That one was a torched ball," said Thompson. "It's awesome to just to see her continue to be a big impact in that four spot with runners in scoring position is great. With Abby, it was great to see her in tune with that home run ball. She's been swinging it well at practice so that kind of just sealed the deal of her hard work paying off."
Freshman right-hander Ava Edwards earned her second win of her young career with four runs, four hits, and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work while senior right-hander Alexis Kemp came in in relief and sealed the win in 1.2 innings of work with only one run and one hit.
GAME NOTES
- The Rangers were a single short of hitting for the cycle as an offense with at least two Rangers hitting a double, a triple, and a home run.
- Regis finished with three stolen bases on the day
- Sydney Young's grand slam is the first in her young career
UP NEXT
The Rangers wrap up their second conference series of the season with two more games against Adams State. First pitch is scheduled for 11 AM.
"This is why we play the game," said Thompson. "We tell our girls all the time that it's a new day tomorrow and so yes, today was a good day and we're very proud of them and we should be happy with this, but they're going to come out swinging tomorrow. They're going to come out wanting to play with us and we need to be able to make sure we can re-dial in and everyone goes back to a clean sheet. We're hoping that we get another series sweep and that would be great momentum going into next week."
