GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – For the first time since 2015, the Regis University softball team will play for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament championship after a monumental 7-4 comeback win over #2 seed Colorado Christian University on Friday.
The #5 seed Rangers (31-24 overall) are the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament after taking advantage of costly Cougar (48-7 overall) mistakes and a three-run home run from freshman utility Sydney Young to score six runs in the top of the seventh after starting the half inning down 4-1.
"This team never quits and their fight and love for each other is unmatched," said Regis head softball coach, Nicole Thompson. "I knew if we could get a couple of hits and gain some momentum, we had a chance."
HOW IT HAPPENED
A pitching duel between junior right-hander Kylie Harpman and CCU's Kaila Eastburn prevented either team from scoring more than two runs through the fifth inning.
Regis scored its first of the day in the top of the third after junior infielder Miia Campos hit an RBI single to center. CCU's two runs came in the first inning from a home run, and a RBI single in the third.
Both pitchers began to settle in in the pitching circle as both blanked the opposition in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the score 2-1 in CCU's favor until the sixth.
With two runners on, CCU's Leah Garcia tripled down the left field line to score two more and inflate their lead to three, with the score at 4-1 after the home half of the inning.
But the Rangers weren't going down just yet, sending a total of 11 batters to the plate to pull off the comeback win.
Freshman pinch hitter Rachel Barriga kicked things off for Regis with a double to left field, followed up by a single from sophomore outfielder Olivia Wick.
A sacrifice fly to left field from Campos pushed the first of the six runs across the plate for the Rangers, followed by junior catcher Rachel Williams reaching on an error which pushed Wick into scoring position.
The Cougars had no outs on the board as junior infielder Morgan Norris stepped up to the plate and singled through the left side to score Wick for run number two.
Norris advanced to second on the throw from the outfield, and quickly found herself on third after a throwing error from third base that allowed Williams to score for the third run of the half inning.
After the dust had settled, Regis found itself tied with CCU, 4-4. With Norris on third, sophomore outfielder Sienna Reed drew a walk to put two runners on.
With the third pitch she saw in her at-bat, Young sent the ball to the opposite side of the field and over the right field wall for the three go-ahead runs to put the Rangers squarely ahead, 7-4.
Harpman had no issues closing out the game, producing a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh thanks to two groundouts and a pop up to shortstop.
Campos led all Rangers at the plate, going two-for-3 with two RBIs while Young stole the show with her three-run blast in the top of the seventh.
Harpman threw her second complete game in as many days, giving up four runs on five hits and striking out three to secure her 17th win of the season.
"It was a big-time clutch home run from a freshman," said Thompson. "Sydney has needed one hit to go her way and she has stayed persistent and it all came through for her at the right time. As for Kylie, she has been our rock year after year in big time games like this one. I trusted her with everything and knew if we could get her some runs we had her back on defense. At the end of the day, ??our identity is to put pressure on defenses, gap-to-gap hitting and scoring in different ways. We stayed true to that and trusted it."
UP NEXT
The Rangers will play for their first tournament championship since 2015. First pitch for the championship game is scheduled for 1:30 PM while Regis' opponent will be determined by the winner of the 11 AM game.
"I am just so proud of this group. I wouldn't want to be in a battle with anyone group and to be here for the first time since 2015 just shows you where this program is going. I absolutely love these girls and their fight," Thompson said.
