ALAMOSA, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs senior
Dani Fonseca moved into a tie for fifth in Mountain Lion career home run records with a two-run home run in the first inning this morning, but UCCS couldn't pull out the victories in a 5-4 morning setback to Adams State in the morning and a 9-1 loss in the afternoon to Regis. The Mountain Lions (16-14, 13-12 RMAC) hit three home runs as a team today with Fonseca,
Nikki Hoffman and
Haley Smith.
Fonseca improved to 33 career home runs on her ninth home run of the season. She is tied with former teammate Jessica Belsterling and is six home runs away from Christina Blanton's 39 home runs from the 2009 through 2012 seasons. Fonseca is three home runs away from tying for No. 10 in UCCS single-season records.
UCCS took the 2-0 lead with the home run in the first inning, and a leadoff triple for Adams State in the second inning would make it a 2-1 lead. The hit would be the only one for the Grizzlies in the first four innings. Hoffman hit a home run for the second straight game with a two-out solo shot to right-center field in the top of the fifth, and
Melissa Martinek followed with a double to right center on the next pitch. She would score for the second time today after an error at third base to push the UCCS lead to 4-1.
Adams State put its first two batters on base in the bottom of the sixth inning and tied the game at 4-4 with a home run. The Mountain Lions had a runner in scoring position in the top of the seventh with two outs but a groundout to the pitcher prevented UCCS from breaking the tie. The Grizzlies hit their third triple of the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh and a single to right field scored the winning run in the 5-4 decision.
Martinek went three-of-four at the plate in her third game of the season with at least three hits. Hoffman went two-of four in her 12th multi-hit game of the season. Fonseca struck out two batters in the pitching circle in the loss.
UCCS loaded the bases in the first inning against Regis but couldn't score in the first inning. The Rangers opened a 4-0 lead in the second inning as the home team, helped by a three-run home run. Smith hit her fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning on a full count to make it a 4-1 game for the Mountain Lions.
Regis responded with three runs off of four hits in the bottom of the inning to push its advantage up to 7-1. The Mountain Lions put runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings but couldn't cut into the Ranger lead. Regis scored twice in the sixth inning to secure the run-rule decision with a 9-1 score.
Whitney Weber was one-of-two at the plate and Smith went one-of-three. Smith went four innings in the loss.
UCCS committed no errors in the two games and has extended its streak to four straight games with no defensive mistakes. It matches the longest streak of the season from Feb. 20-27.
The Mountain Lions will remain in Alamosa to face Regis and Adams State in the final games of the weekend. UCCS will take on Regis at noon and Adams State at 2 p.m.
