COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs junior Whitney Weber hit the first home runs of her collegiate career with one in each game as the Mountain Lions (9-22, 8-18 RMAC) earned a split with Adams State (13-23, 12-14 RMAC) today at Mountain Lion Field. The Grizzlies took the first game 10-8 before the Mountain Lions scored nine in the first inning in a 14-3 victory in five innings in the second game.

Weber hit the first home run of her career in the first inning of game one and Claire Nibbe followed two batters later as UCCS matched Adams State's two runs from the top of the first. Both teams turned in strong defensive performances in the second inning to keep the game tied at 2-2, but Adams State retook the lead with a three-run home run in the third inning.

The Mountain Lions loaded the bases in the fourth inning with no outs and manufactured two runs to cut the Adams State lead down to 5-4. The Grizzlies hit a solo home run in the fifth and Rayle Glover hit her second home run of the season in the sixth as Adams State took a 6-5 lead into the seventh. The Grizzlies hit two home runs in the top of the seventh and scored four runs in the process to double the Mountain Lion score at 10-5.

Leigh Lancaster and Melissa Martinek both reached scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. After a groundout to third base, Lancaster scored on a single from Lexi Belligan and Martinek scored on a double from Nibbe. Glover earned a walk and loaded the bases with one out and Belligan scored on a sacrifice fly by Nikki Hoffman to cut the Adams State lead to 10-8. Jordyn Cusimano reached a 2-2 count before she took the third strike looking as the Grizzlies ended the Mountain Lion rally for the 10-8 decision.

Nibbe finished two-for-three with two runs and two RBIs, and was one of four Mountain Lions with multiple hits. Stephanie Chitkowski struck out four batters and allowed no walks in the complete game appearance.

UCCS took early control in game two with nine runs in the first inning. Weber hit an inside-the-park home run with a hit into right-center field and prevented the need for the second part of a relay throw with her speed. The Mountain Lions recorded seven hits in the first inning and earned all nine runs against two pitchers for the 9-0 lead.

Adams State responded with a two-run home run in the second inning and the Mountain Lions took advantage of back-to-back errors in the bottom of the second for a 10-2 lead. Belligan hit her third home run in the last six games in the third inning and the Grizzlies hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning as UCCS maintained its eight-run advantage at 11-3.

Makenna Smith and Hoffman made back-to-back singles in the fourth inning, and Megan Duffy used her first pitch as a pinch hitter for a three-run home run as UCCS extended its lead to 14-3. The Mountain Lions retired the Grizzlies in order in the fifth inning for the run-rule decision.

The 14 runs for UCCS marked the most since 16 against Northern Colorado on April 15, 2015, and the most in an RMAC game since 14 against Chadron State on March 29, 2015. The Mountain Lions posted 11 hits today and have finished with 10 or more hits in three of the last four games. Five of the nine student-athletes in the batting order finished with multiple hits and Christina Patton earned her second win in the last three games.

UCCS and Adams State will finish the series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 11 a.m.