COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Regis University Softball team, traveled south to Colorado Springs for a series with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Thursday afternoon. The Rangers lost the first game 6-9, and the second, 8-9, dropping to 17-30 (16-22 RMAC) on the year. The Mountain Lions improve to 28-20 (22-15 RMAC).

GAME ONE

UCCS would take the first lead of the game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run. An RBI single in the second frame pushed the Mountain Lion's lead to 3-0. The Rangers would come alive in the third inning, as Jessica Isbell reached on a fielder's choice, and Mia Moore and Ariana Ybarra singled back-to-back. That set up and RBI single by Mya Chacon, and a two-RBI single by Olivia Wick. Bella Bordine gave Regis the lead with a grounder that batted in Chacon.

However, Colorado Springs kept their momentum into the bottom of the inning, scoring four more runs four more hits and a Ranger error. Chacon helped RU chip away at the lead with an RBI singled that drove in Angelina Romero-Barros, followed by an RBI grounder by wick to bring home Moore.

The bottom of the fourth saw the second home run for Katie Steinmetz and the 8-6 UCCS lead. Ybarra recorded a double in the top of the sixth, and Chacon added another single, but the Rangers did not reach home in the inning. One Mountain Lion was left on base in the sixth, and the Rangers went three-up, three-down, losing 6-8.

GAME NOTES

·         Chacon and Ybarra both went 3-4 at the plate

·         Chacon batted in two runs, while Wick batted in three

·         Katie Steinmetz was 2-3, scoring three runs, and batted in three for UCCS

·         Caitlyn Potts (2-6) recorded the loss, while Kailey Bond (9-5) earned the win, and Lauren Falk the save (5)

GAME TWO

Regis started the second game much stronger, as Ybarra launched a first-inning solo homer. Following a scoreless second inning, the Mountain Lions would even the game at 1-1 in the third on an RBI center field single.

Ybarra led off the fourth inning with a single, then after stealing second, Romero-Barros batted her in with a sacrifice fly. Abby Larsen posted a doubled, and some walks helped load the bases for Bordine who took four more balls for the RBI. Chacon earned an RBI on a walk, and Moore batted in Isabella Porter with the help of a UCCS error.

A back-to-back Regis error and UCCS doubled brought home two runs, but RU still led, 5-3. The Rangers stranded two runners in the fifth, and one in the sixth, and the Mountain Lions would take advantage, taking back the lead with four runs on four hits in the sixth.

Wick solo homered in the seventh, while a sacrifice bunt turned by Isabella Porter batted in Morgan Norris, and an error on the play allowed Larsen to come home, putting the Rangers up, 8-7. However, UCCS had the final say, walking off in the bottom of the seventh with a two run homer.

GAME NOTES

·         Ybarra went 2-4 at the plate, scored two runs, and batted in one

·         Five other Rangers had a hit, and four others had an RBI

·         Five Mountain Lions had multiple hits

·         Ybarra stole two bases

·         Hallie Crappell (5-6) recorded the loss, while Falk (3-4) earned the win

UP NEXT

The Rangers and Mountain Lions continue the series with another doubleheader on Friday, April 18, first pitch at 10 am.