LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On the final day of the 2024 regular season, the Regis University softball team came back in grand fashion on Saturday with two run-rule victories over the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls.
The Rangers (28-24 overall, 24-18 RMAC) only needed 11 of the 14 possible innings to get the job done against the Cowgirls (16-31 overall, 12-30 RMAC) with a 10-2 win in Game One, and an 11-3 win in Game Two.
"Today was needed to get us the right momentum going into the tournament. We saw some great adjustments from this group at the plate and I'm very happy we ended with two convincing wins," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson.
GAME ONE | HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rangers came out hard and kept it going offensively for five of the six innings of game play Saturday morning, scoring at least one run through the fifth.
Junior infielder Morgan Norris and sophomore outfielder Olivia Wick generated the most buzz with their performances that featured a three-run home run from Norris, and a solo shot from Wick.
Norris finished Game One going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a walk, a home run, and a single while Wick went 1-for 4, scoring two runs alongside her solo home run.
Leading the offensive for the Rangers was junior infielder Miia Campos who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs, a walk, a double, and a pair of singles.
On the mound, junior right-hander Kylie Harpman gave up two runs in the first inning, but that would be the only time NMHU crossed the plate as Harpman struck out five, and shut out the remainder of the Cowgirls' lineup.
"Kylie looked great this weekend," said Thompson. "She was confident and relaxed and that's what we needed from her to get into this RMAC tournament."
GAME TWO | HOW IT HAPPENED
A massive 9-run fifth inning powered the Rangers past the Cowgirls to seal the series split.
With a total of five singles, a double, and a triple, Regis found themselves with an eight-run lead by the end of the top half of the inning.
Seven of Regis' starting nine contributed offensively, with Wick and Campos leading the charge with two RBIs apiece. Meanwhile, junior infielder Rachel Williams notched her conference-leading ninth triple of the season.
Sophomore right-hander Vanessa Candito earned her fourth win of the season in just 3.1 innings of work. Candito faced 14 batters, striking out two and issuing only two walks.
"That fifth inning was great from 1-9 in our lineup," Thompson said. "We talk a lot about closing the door and that was a great time to get things going. Hitting strong together and feeding off our momentum to end the game early."
UP NEXT
With the regular season complete, the Rangers finished fifth in the conference and will appear in next weekend's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. Seeding and game times will be announced by the RMAC later this week.
"We will get back to work on Monday," said Thompson. "We are excited to be in the tournament, this group has worked hard to get here. Now it's a new season and it's anybody's weekend. So why not Regis?
