EDMOND, Okla. – Playing in their final games of the non-conference schedule, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team dropped two decisions Sunday in Edmond, Okla. at Broncho Stadium. The Mountain Lions lost 7-3 to host team University of Central Oklahoma in the morning game, and 6-4 to co-host Oklahoma Christian University.
The Mountain Lions (4-8) plated all three of their runs against Central Oklahoma in the top of the fourth inning.
Lexi Andersen started the inning with a single before
Payton Romines drew a walk.
Shae Bushey loaded the bases after reaching first on a fielder's choice but Romines remained safe at second after a fielding error by UCO.
Leigh Lancaster recorded the first out of the inning but batted in Andersen for UCCS' first score of the game. With two outs and two runners in scoring position,
Melissa Martinek hit a double to right center that scored Bushey and Romines for the final three runs of the inning.
The three runs in the fourth inning gave UCCS a 3-2 lead, but the Bronchos quickly regained the lead after adding two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
Rayle Glover accounted for two of the Mountain Lions seven hits. Bushey finished going 1-for-3 with one run scored.
In the circle,
Taylor Reidhead struck out one batter and allowed five earned runs on six hits.
Cami Duffey worked the final inning, surrendering two runs on one hit.
Against OCU, the Eagles snagged a 4-0 lead on five hits in their first action at the plate. UCCS responded in the top of the second when
Sawyer Brewster led off with a single home run over the left field fence.
UCCS' defense and pitcher
Braelyne Crenshaw held the Eagles to three-up, three-down in the second and third innings.
Once again, the Mountain Lions had another strong showing in the fourth inning and tied the game, 4-4, after scoring three runs on two hits. With one out and the bases loaded, the Eagles forced an out at home plate, but
Meghan Waidler entered the game as a pinch hitter and drew a walk that scored Romines. Martinek added her fourth RBI of the day with a single to score Sierra Batchleor and
Bryn Horton, but the Mountain Lions left the inning with bases loaded.
OCU regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, 5-4, and held UCCS scoreless in the final three innings.
Five batters recorded a single hit against the Eagles. Brewster's and Romines tallied extra base hits with a homerun and a double, respectively.
Crenshaw went the distance, allowing six runs on eight hits and fanning two batters.
The Mountain Lions will open their home season and conference season Feb. 22-23 in a four-game series against Colorado State-Pueblo.
