GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University softball team completed their perfect run at the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament championship on Saturday, with a 4-3 walk-off win against the Colorado Christian University Cougars to secure their sixth conference championship in program history, and the first since 2015.
Junior catcher Rachel Williams was the hero in the bottom of the seventh, hitting a walk-off single to secure the win for the Rangers (32-24 overall). On the mound, sophomore right-hander Vanessa Candito and junior right-hander Kylie Harpman tag teamed to limit a lethal Cougars (49-8 overall) offense to only one earned run through all seven innings.
"I truly can't put into words how this week just went. This is a huge moment for this team and they deserve every minute of this championship. This program has been on the rise and each year we get closer and closer and this year we put it all together," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A supporting cast of Rangers strung together a eight-hit performance that led to the dramatic finale, including a triple from junior infielder Miia Campos and a double from junior infielder Morgan Norris.
Sophomore outfielder Olivia Wick led the Rangers offensively with a perfect 3-for-3 appearance at the plate with two runs scored while Williams followed up with a 2-for-3 performance that included two RBI and the game-winning hit.
"Rachel is a player you want to have on your team. She's our biggest competitor, biggest team player and one of our catalysts," said Thompson. "She has had some clutch hits in her career but this probably takes the title. She's always working on how to get better in every aspect and I am so proud of her to come in that spot and just own it. Good things came out of it because she had the confidence."
Leading up to the seventh, the Rangers had put together a three-run third inning to take a 3-0 lead over the Cougars. In the fourth, CCU scored on a wild pitch, and a costly error by the Rangers in the sixth pushed two more across to level the score, 3-3, going into the seventh.
Harpman, who hadn't allowed a run all game in her four innings of work, worked around two singles that put Cougars in scoring position and shut them down without giving up a single score.
A single from Wick and an eight-pitch walk from Campos pushed Wick to second as Williams turned on the third pitch she saw and sent it down the right field line for the RBI.
In the circle, both Candito and Harpman dominated as they gave up six hits and Candito only allowed one earned run. Together, the right-handers struck out five and only allowed one walk.
Candito was named the All-Tournament MVP after a one-hit shutout against Colorado Mesa University on Thursday and putting together a tournament performance of three hits, one run, and 10 strikeouts.
"Vanessa and Kylie, I mean, what a week they had," said Thompson. "They were so dominant on the mound and they never gave in and just kept battling. We gave them the game plan this morning and they bought in and supported each other. That's what we want with a staff. I'm proud of the success they have had with their composure and confidence."
Alongside Candito, Campos, Harpman, Norris, and Young, were also named to the All-Tournament team.
UP NEXT
With the tournament win, the Rangers secured the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Both the regional site and Regis' first opponent will be announced Monday, May 6 at 8 AM MST.
"At this point, we're pretty sure we're going to Texas," Thompson said. "We'll celebrate today and get back to work on Monday. We play those preseason tournaments so we can see what we're up against in the Lone Star Conference for moments like this win. So we need to take this momentum and confidence we are riding and go in there with the same mindset we had this week. Why not Regis?"
