CANYON, Tex. – A magical postseason run lives to see another day for the Regis University softball team as they took down the No. 1 ranked West Texas A&M University on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
The Rangers (33-24 overall) took advantage of a defensive miscue from the Lady Buffs (48-7 overall) in the first and tacked on a couple extra in the fourth and fifth innings, all while locking the field down defensively and only allowing three runs to come away with the 4-3 win.
"I am feeling so amazingly blessed to be able to lead this group," said Regis softball head coach, Nicole Thompson. "Their fight and love to be playing softball right now is just unmatched. This group stayed the course and trusted our identity and it paid off big time. I mean, this group is having fun. There is no doubt that they know they deserve to be on this stage and that gives them confidence to do the things they are at the plate and defensively."
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was fireworks for the Rangers from the beginning as a throwing error from third base put junior infielder Miia Campos aboard and scored sophomore outfielder Olivia Wick and not long after that, junior infielder Morgan Norris brought Campos in with a RBI groundout to shortstop.
Junior right-hander Kylie Harpman quickly got to work and settled in and blanked the Lady Buffs with two back-to-back 1-2-3 innings thanks to a staunch Regis defense with five total putouts and one strikeout for Harpman.
West Texas got two back in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run to left field but Harpman answered by striking out the next batter for the third out of the inning.
Freshman infielder Jessica Isbell had herself a day at the plate going 2-for-3 at the plate with 1 RBI that came in the top of the fourth from a single up the middle.
Norris continued her reign as Regis' top RBI-getter with a single that was sent back to where it came from to score her 61st RBI of the season, and Regis' fourth run of the day in the fifth.
Of Regis' nine in their batting lineup, six had at least one hit with Norris leading in RBIs (2) and Isbell leading in hits (2).
"One through nine came out with the same mindset right where we left off last weekend," said Thompson. "They worked counts, didn't chase off the plate and came through on timely hits."
West Texas threatened in the bottom of the sixth as they took another run back and were poised to tie the game in the seventh with a runner on third, but Campos and junior catcher Rachel Williams had a huge play at the plate after a grounder took Campos to her left and off center, but made the throw to home in time to tag the runner out.
"Kylie is feeling all the confidence out on the mound and has found her groove," Thompson said. "It is so fun to see all her hard work pay off and she deserves every bit of it. Then the trust she has with her defense is a huge key. Our outfield played amazing with the wind and we had a huge play from MC and Rachel in the 7th."
UP NEXT
With the win, the Rangers move on to play at 11 AM MT on Friday. They'll find out who they play after the game between Angelo State University and Oklahoma Christian University.
"We have seen Angelo and it was a good battle early in this season," Thompson said. "So we cherish and celebrate this win right now but then we know we get back to business and ready for whoever we get to survive and advance."
