DENVER, Colo. – From the first inning in Game One to the final out in Game Two, the Regis softball team challenged the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in a doubleheader out at the Assembly Athletic Complex.

The Rangers (15-13 overall, 11-7 RMAC) took Game One in explosive fashion with three home runs in the first inning alone, but came up short in Game Two to take the split against the Orediggers (11-13 overall, 8-10 RMAC).

GAME ONE | HOW IT HAPPENED

After not playing a game for eight days because of weather, the Rangers quickly made up for lost time with three home runs in the first and second innings.

Junior first baseman Morgan Norris got Regis' offense going with a two-run shot to left center after a walk from the conference leader in base on balls, Rachel Williams, put a runner on.

Norris passed the bat to freshman designated hitter Sydney Young who hit a home run of her own to the same spot as Norris to put the Rangers up, 3-0, after the first inning.

Getting the job done in the circle was junior right-hander Kylie Harpman who kept the Orediggers off balance and sat them down in order in the top of the second.

Third-year outfielder Abby Larsen kept things going as she sent a ball dead center to increase the Rangers' lead to four.

The Orediggers got on the board in the top of the fourth with a two-run shot of their own, but that would be the only time the Orediggers would cross the plate for the rest of the game.

Williams and Larsen added two more to Regis' tally thanks to a triple down the right field line from Wiliams and a single up the middle from Larsen.

Larsen finished the day going 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Williams went 1-for-2 and secured Regis' only walk of the game.

In the circle, Harpman struck out four and gave up six hits in seven innings of work.

GAME TWO | HOW IT HAPPENED

Patience was the most important virtue for the Rangers as they added three runs to their total thanks to a total of six walks in the bottom of the first. 

Norris continued her offensive streak into Game Two with a double to center that scored another to make it 4-0 by the end of the second.

The Orediggers started to make their comeback in the third inning with two runs and added a third in the top of the fourth.

A back-and-forth fifth and sixth innings culminated in a 7-6 Oredigger lead, but freshman infielder Rachel Barriga took the lead back with a two-run shot to right field.

With the Rangers up 8-7, the Orediggers came back with a four-spot in the top of the seventh to go up by three, 11-8.

Sophomore pinch hitter Sienna Reed hit a solo home run to shorten the lead to 2, 11-9, but the Rangers fell short to split the day.

SERIES NOTES

• The all-time series against the Orediggers moves to 106-41
• Kylie Harpman earned her 10th win of the season
• Rangers' pitching staff finished with 10 strikeouts on the day

UP NEXT

The Rangers travel to Chadron, Neb. to take on the Chadron State College Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for Saturday at 12 PM.