COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs hit seven home runs, with a grand slam from Rayle Glover, in a doubleheader victory against New Mexico Highlands at Mountain Lion Field. UCCS (14-25, 13-21 RMAC) extended its win streak to four games with a 7-3 win in game one and a 15-7 run-rule decision in five innings in the second game against the Cowgirls (18-29, 15-19 RMAC).

The victories move UCCS within two games of an RMAC Tournament spot with six games left in the regular season. The Mountain Lions are two games behind the seventh-place teams of Adams State and New Mexico Highlands with two games left against the Cowgirls and a four-game series at Black Hills State next weekend.

The Mountain Lions took advantage of back-to-back errors in the second inning of game one for a 2-1 lead against the Cowgirls after Nikki Hoffman hit a double to score Claire Nibbe and Glover. Martinek hit a lead off home run in the third inning and Whitney Weber scored on a single from Lexi Belligan as UCCS built a 4-2 lead. Highlands cut the lead down to a run at 4-3 in the fifth inning.

UCCS hit two home runs in the sixth with a lead off home run from Hoffman and a two-run shot from Martinek for a 7-3 lead against the Cowgirls. The Mountain Lions retired Highlands in order in the top of the seventh to clinch the series-opening win. Stephanie Chitkowski struck out seven batters and won her ninth game in her tenth complete game of the season. Martinek and Hoffman both went two-for-three at the plate with three runs batted in.

The Mountain Lions manufactured one run in the first inning of game two, but Highlands took its first lead of the day with three runs in the third for the 3-1 advantage. UCCS started the third with seven straight hits and finished with eight runs for a 9-3 lead. Belligan and Nibbe both drove in one run with bases-loaded singles before Glover's grand slam cleared the bases, and Jordyn Cusimano hit a two-run home run for the 9-3 advantage.

UCCS put itself into position for a run-rule victory in the fourth inning as Hoffman scored Glover and Belligan for an 11-3 lead. The Cowgirls hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning to force a bottom of the fifth with the Mountain Lions leading by only four runs at 11-7. Glover and Martinek each hit two-run home runs in the bottom of the fifth to bring the lead back to eight runs for the 15-7 win in five innings.

Glover finished with six RBIs in the second game with two home runs and a three-for-four performance. Belligan went three-for-three and Martinek, Hoffman and Leigh Lancaster both added two hits each. UCCS finished with 17 teams hits and matched its season-high set in the first game against Fort Lewis on April 14. Christina Patton won her fourth game of the season and struck out four batters.

UCCS will finish the home season on Sunday with a doubleheader against Highlands. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.