DURANGO, Colo. – Looking to bounce back from the previous weekend, the Regis University softball team traveled down to Durango to take on the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks.
The first day of the two-day series ended in a split as the Rangers (13-11 overall, 9-5 RMAC) took Game Two, 14-3, but dropped Game One to the Skyhawks (6-17 overall, 4-10 RMAC) in an extra-innings contest, 2-1.
"I am very proud of this group," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "The way they reset and bounced back after Game One speaks volumes of the character and fight of this team."
GAME TWO | HOW IT HAPPENED
It was all about the middle innings for the Rangers in Game Two as they scored 12 of their 14 total runs in the third through fifth innings to take the game, 14-3.
Leading the charge for the Rangers was junior designated hitter, Rachel Williams, who hit two bombs in the fourth and fifth innings for a total of five RBIs.
Not to be forgotten in offensive performance was freshman catcher Sydney Young who hit her third home run of the season.
"This group knows when we get rolling it's hard to stop us and we just had to get there and make those adjustments. Rachel Barriga was massive for us today, she hit both sides of the plate and was a tough out all day," said Thompson. "Then Rachel Williams came up big with her two home runs and those just took the momentum right off the bat and then Syd with hers as well was big. Our bottom of the lineup with Ari and Jess really helped turn our top over."
Fort Lewis scored a total of three runs through the fourth, but were unable to generate any more offensive power as the Rangers secured their fifth run-rule win of the season.
Sophomore right-hander Vanessa Candito earned her first win of the season thanks to a 3.1 inning performance that featured four strikeouts, only two hits, and no runs.
"Vanessa was awesome on the mound today. I was so happy to see her confidence back and she came in at a key point and never let them get back into the game," Thompson said.
GAME NOTES
GAME ONE | HOW IT HAPPENED
Junior right-hander Kylie Harpman earned the start for the Rangers in a pitcher's duel that saw a total of 19 hits in Game One.
Harpman allowed one hit almost every inning, but her defense stepped up while also getting at least one strikeout every inning.
The Rangers and Skyhawks traded blows throughout the seven innings, but both were still standing after the bottom of the seventh to force Regis' second extra-innings game in as many weekends.
Senior right-hander Alexis Kemp stepped up for the Rangers in the eighth, but the Skyhawks got the walk-off win with a single through the right side.
GAME NOTES
- Freshman infielder Rachel Barriga went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate
- Junior right-hander Kylie Harpman earned eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work
UP NEXT
The Rangers wrap up their weekend down in Durango with two more games on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 AM.
"We know what we are capable of doing to finish out this series. We just need to ride and take the momentum from this second game into the whole day tomorrow," said Thompson.
