GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Nothing shined brighter than the Regis University softball team's pitching staff on Thursday as they only allowed two runs in 14 innings of work in two huge wins over the #4-seeded Colorado School of Mines and the #1 seeded Colorado Mesa University in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship tournament.
Junior right-hander Kylie Harpman worked her magic in Game One as Regis (30-24 overall) beat the Orediggers (29-22 overall) 4-2 while sophomore right-hander Vanessa Candito stunned the Mavericks (43-8 overall) with a one-hit shutout to lead the Rangers to a 8-0 win in Game Two.
"Today was a great day to be a Ranger," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "This team has fought hard all year long and today was fun to see it all pan out. This group is special."
GAME ONE | COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES | 4-2
It was a pitcher's duel through the first three innings, with both teams leaving a total of nine runners on base, but unable to push one across.
But Regis struck first in the top of the fourth, with a two-run home run from junior outfielder Abby Larsen to break the scoring drought. Larsen led the Rangers at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, knocking in 2 RBI and recording two hits.
Freshman utility player Sydney Young kept things going offensively for the Rangers, as a single down the right field line scored another to put Regis up 3-0.
The Orediggers weren't going away quietly, however, as a two-run blast over the right field fence from Trystin Oshiro-Sano put CSM within one in the bottom of the sixth.
Junior catcher Rachel Williams took Regis' one-run lead and turned it into two thanks to a sacrifice fly out to right field that scored junior infielder Miia Campos who reached earlier in the half-inning.
Harpman quickly settled back in after the home run, and shut the Orediggers out for the remaining three outs. The Fort Collins native finished her complete game allowing nine hits and two walks, but struck out five.
"Our offense has been a team effort all year long and for the bottom of the lineup like Abby Larsen to come up big is great to help out the top," Thompson said. "Kylie was awesome on the mound, great to see her confidence and having fun. I knew once we got some runs with her we would be good."
GAME TWO | COLORADO MESA | 8-0
Candito threw one of her best games yet on Thursday as she held the nation's top-scoring team to a single hit in Game Two.
Regis' 8-0 win snapped CMU's 33-game win streak, their 20-game home winning streak, and handed them only their second shutout loss of the season.
Offensively, the Rangers accrued a total of 12 hits in Game Two, all of which were singles.
Both sophomore outfielder Sienna Reed and junior infielder Morgan Norris led the Rangers at the plate with 3 RBIs each, while Reed went 1-for-3 and Norris went 2-for-4.
The remaining two runs came from Campos and sophomore outfielder Olivia Wick while Candito held it down in the circle.
Candito's one-hit performance held CMU to its second-lowest number of hits all season and handed them their first shutout by a RMAC team.
The Tucson native struck out seven while forcing 14 of the Mavericks' batters to put the ball in play where Regis' defense had no issues retiring them.
"Vanessa, I mean. Wow. She was amazing and deserved every minute of it. She has worked so hard in bullpens and her last outings have really put it together. So for this to happen to her, I am so proud," Thompson said. "She has trusted the process, kept them off balance, hit her spots and had confidence that was unmatched. Our goal offensively was to get Presley out and we did just that. We are getting hot at the right time and getting timely hits which creates huge momentum in the tournament and it helps to have an offensive day like we did."
UP NEXT
The Rangers move on to the semifinals in the winner's bracket where they will face Colorado Christian University on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM.
"Tomorrow is a new day. We get to celebrate and cherish today but later it'll be time to get that mindset ready for CCU tomorrow as we still have business to finish," said Thompson.
