COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team suffered two close losses in their opening day of conference play this afternoon. Taking on Colorado School of Mines this weekend, the Mountain Lions lost the first game by a score of 2-4 and the second by a score of 9-10. UCCS is now 4-9 on the season and 0-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

In game one, Braelyne Crenshaw got the start and threw well as she went six complete innings and allowed four runs (only one earned) off four hits with four strikeouts. Crenshaw threw only 89 pitches in her start as well.

CSM drew first blood in the second inning as they strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases with only one out. A bunt attempt by the Orediggers resulted in an out at home, but a bad throw to first by catcher Courtnie Heller allowed a run to score, giving CSM a 1-0 lead early. After two scoreless innings, UCCS managed to tie things up in the fifth thanks to a leadoff double from Meghan Waidler, followed by a single up the middle by Saleen Quinonez two batters later to even things up at 1-1.

UCCS failed to score in the sixth, as the Orediggers took advantage with a three-run inning off one hit and two Mountain Lion errors to make the score 4-1 with one inning to go. Waidler again got on base in the seventh, this time due to error, and managed to advance to third off a single by Brianna Santos. Quinonez drove a ball to deep center for a sacrifice fly, which scored Waidler to make the score 2-4.

Unfortunately, the Mountain Lions were unable to score again in the inning as CSM took the opening game, 2-4.

For game two, Cami Duffey got the start and went 1 2/3 innings before being relieved by Lexi Rayburn in the second inning. Duffey allowed six runs (two earned) off five hits with one strikeout and three walks. Rayburn pitched the remainder of the game and allowed four runs (all earned) off six hits with one strikeout as well.

The Ordiggers again drew first blood with a solo home run in the first inning. UCCS responded in kind with two runs in the second inning thanks to a two-out double from Solana Martinez followed by a two-run blast from Payton Romines, making the score 2-1 UCCS.

However, CSM would also respond in the second inning with two-run single to make the score 3-2. Two batters later, CSM belted a three-run home run to right field to make the score 6-2 in favor of the Orediggers. UCCS scored one in the third off a sacrifice fly by Heller, and CSM scored one in the fourth to make the score 3-7 after four innings. The Mountain Lions added one in the fifth (RBI single from Heller) and two in the sixth (single from Quinonez, two RBI) to cut the deficit to one, 6-7.

CSM answered in the sixth with three more runs to make the score 10-6 heading into the last inning. The Mountain Lions gave it their best shot in the last inning as Alex Cook got things started with a one-out single. After Martinez drew a walk, Romines doubled to left center to score Cook and cut the deficit to three. Bryn Horton followed that up with an RBI single to make the score 8-10, and Santos immediately added another RBI single to make it 9-10.

However, CSM was able to get the final out before UCCS could complete the comeback as they earned their second win of the day.

UCCS and CSM are back in action tomorrow with another double header at Mountain Lion Field. The first game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.