AZTEC, N.M. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs built an early lead in game one and then held off Fort Lewis late in the second game as the Mountain Lions (12-25, 11-21 RMAC) earned 8-4 and 5-4 wins against the Skyhawks (6-35, 5-27 RMAC) at the Aztec Tiger Sports Complex.
Melissa Martinek recorded two hits in each game.
Whitney Weber started the scoring for UCCS in game one with a run off a wild pitch, and Martinek hit a bases loaded triple in the second for a 4-0 Mountain Lion lead.
Rayle Glover pushed the lead to 5-0 in the third inning after she was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a passed ball, reached third on a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly from
Jordyn Cusimano. UCCS manufactured two more runs in the fourth with runs from Weber and
Lexi Belligan for the 7-0 advantage.
Stephanie Chitkowski allowed only three Skyhawks to reach base through the first four innings, but a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth broke the shutout. Fort Lewis hit a double with its next batter and eventually scored to cut the UCCS lead to 7-2. The Skyhawks scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and cut the UCCS lead to 7-4. The Mountain Lions took advantage of a fielding error in right field in the seventh inning for an 8-4 lead, and Chitkowski finished the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the 8-4 victory.
Makenna Smith went two-for-three, Belligan and Weber finished with two runs, and Martinek led the team with three RBIs in game one. Chitkowski improved to 8-8 for her second straight win against the Skyhawks.
Fort Lewis took a 3-0 lead in game two through the fourth inning with a home run in the first inning and a two-RBI double in the fourth.
Kylie Barnard hit a home run as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and cut the Skyhawk lead to 3-2, and a double from
Claire Nibbe scored Weber to tie the game. Glover hit her fourth home run of the season and provided a 5-3 lead for the Mountain Lions.
The Skyhawks put a runner on third in the bottom of the fifth inning but couldn't narrow the Mountain Lion lead, and both teams went down in order in the sixth. Fort Lewis kept UCCS out of scoring position in the top of the seventh inning, and then used three straight singles to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. The Skyhawks scored one run off a sacrifice fly, but a groundout to first base led to an unassisted play for Belligan and secured the 5-4 win.
Martinek and Weber both went two-for-four in the second game as six Mountain Lions earned hits.
Christina Patton earned her third win in the last five decisions with a six and one-third inning start and four strikeouts. Chitkowski pitched the final two outs of the game and earned her first save of the season.
UCCS will return to Colorado Springs for the final home series of the season against New Mexico Highlands April 22-23. The Mountain Lions are four games behind the Cowgirls (18-27, 15-17 RMAC) who are tied for seventh in the standings with eight games left in the regular season.
