ALAMOSA, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs junior
Megan Duffy went a combined three-of-five in her first starting lineup appearance since Feb. 5 as the Mountain Lions (16-16, 13-14 RMAC) dropped a 15-7 game in five innings to Regis and a 10-3 game to Adams State to close the conference pod weekend at the Adams State Softball Field.
Dani Fonseca hit home run No. 10 this season to opening the scoring for the Mountain Lions in the bottom of the second inning against Regis in the noon game. The home run moved her alone into fifth in UCCS career records with 34 in four seasons and within five home runs of the No. 4 spot in program history. Duffy scored in the bottom of the third inning off of an RBI single from
Makenna Smith to cut the Ranger lead down to 10-2.
UCCS put together four consecutive hits in the fourth inning, including back-to-back triples from
Kylie Barnard and
Jordyn Cusimano, to score five runs in the bottom of the inning and to answer a five-run performance by Regis in the top of the inning. The Mountain Lions trailed 15-7 after the inning and held the Rangers scoreless in the top of the fifth, but couldn't bring a runner home in the bottom of the fifth to prevent the run rule from taking effect.
Duffy went two-of-two with a double as the Mountain Lions recorded six extra-base hits in the game.
Stephanie Chitkowski took the loss in the pitching circle with a pair of strikeouts.
The Grizzlies scored one run in the bottom of the first to open the second game and it remained a 1-0 game through three complete innings. The Mountain Lions put runners on first and second with a pair of walks in the fourth inning with two outs, and took the 3-1 lead with back-to-back doubles from
Haley Smith and Duffy before an inning-ending strikeout. Adams State answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the UCCS lead down to 3-2 going into the fifth.
The Mountain Lions left the bases loaded in the fifth inning. The Grizzlies retook the lead with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth and scored one more run in the sixth for the 10-3 lead. UCCS struggled on offense in the sixth and seventh innings in an effort to make a comeback in the 10-3 setback in Alamosa.
Haley Smith was involved in each of the three runs for the Mountain Lions with the two RBI double and scored on Duffy's double. Smith pitched 4.1 innings in the loss to move her record to 8-5 on the season.
UCCS will remain on the road for a four-game series at Colorado Mines April 9-10 in Golden, Colo. The Orediggers (14-19, 12-14 RMAC) was swept in a four-game series this weekend at Colorado Mesa.
