LAKEWOOD, Colo. – With the regular season coming down to the final few weekends, the Regis University softball team traveled across town to take on the Colorado Christian University Cougars.

The Rangers (26-16 overall, 22-10 RMAC) pushed the Cougars (39-4 overall, 31-3 RMAC) to ten innings in Game One before falling 7-6. Game Two required the full seven innings as the Rangers exploded for five innings and CCU had to claw its way back to take Game Two, 9-8.

"I am so proud of this group today," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "Yes the scoreboard did not go our way but the way this group battled and fought all day was fun to watch. We had some big time plays and hits."

GAME ONE | HOW IT HAPPENED

It took a total of ten innings to declare a winner in Game One out at All-Star Park as the Cougars and Rangers traded blows and exchanged the lead a total of three times and with the score tied after seven.

By the fourth, the Rangers had put together a four-run performance thanks to a couple of hits by pitches, a single from junior outfielder Abby Larsen, and a RBI ground out from sophomore outfielder Sienna Reed. 

Junior utility Rachel Williams had herself a day at the plate going 2-5 and securing two of Regis' runs with a home run and a double. Reed was another standout for the Rangers, scoring another of Regis' two on the day.

After six, the Cougars managed to take a one run lead, 5-4, but a clutch single from junior infielder Morgan Norris tied the game at five.

WIlliams' home run came in the final hour, sending a long ball over the right center fence to give the Rangers the 6-5 lead in the top of the tenth, but Regis was unable to hold on as CCU scored two in the bottom half of the inning for the walk-off win.

GAME TWO | HOW IT HAPPENED

A massive five-run fifth inning inflated the Rangers' tally to seven to CCU's five after a double from Reed-– scoring three–while Larsen came up big again for the Rangers with a shot over the left field fence to score the final two runs of the half inning. 

Over the next inning and a half, the Cougars got back within one run, and took the win with a two-run spot in the bottom of the seventh.

Reed led the Rangers with four RBIs in Game Two with a 2-4 performance at the plate while junior infielder Miia Campos led in runs scored with three.

"We worked really hard this week and had a game plan and mindset going in and they really executed it to the best we could," Thompson said. "We saw all their pitchers and that was a huge advantage for us." 

UP NEXT

The Rangers will close out their series against the Cougars on Sunday with another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 AM.

"We need to come out with the same mentality, focus and fight. We play clean, have timely hits and have pitchers shut them down and we'll be good," said Thompson.