COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team fell victim to several multi-run innings by Regis University on Saturday at Mountain Lion Field as the Rangers came out on top in a pair of run-rule victories to open the four-game conference series.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Game One: UCCS 1, REGIS 10 (6 Innings) | Final Game Two: UCCS 7, REGIS 16 (5 Innings)
Records: UCCS (6-17, 3-11 RMAC), REGIS (14-10, 11-3 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Rangers lead the all-time series 91-47.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- After both teams were retired 1-2-3 in the first inning, Regis put a crooked number on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning as a grand slam from Shayelyn Allen and a two-run home run off the bat of Miaa Campos put the Rangers ahead 6-0.
- With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Regis shortstop Jessi Case hit a line drive down the right field line that was fumbled in right field by Maddie Unrein, allowing Case to make it all the way around the bases and extend the Ranger's advantage to seven runs.
- The Mountain Lions would be stung by the long ball once again in the top of the sixth inning when Case unleashed a three run home run that put UCCS in a 10-0 hole.
- A solo home run from sophomore Paige White in the bottom of the sixth inning put the Mountain Lions on the board, but that would be the extent of the offense as game one ended in six innings via run-rule with Regis taking a 10-1 win to open the series.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE
- UCCS managed to record just three hits in the series-opening ballgame, with single hits coming from White, Lexi Wagner, and Sydney King.
- White tallied the only extra base hit and RBI of the game with her sixth inning home run.
- Courtnie Heller and Peyton Reisman also reached base via hit by pitch.
- Sophomore Mackenzie Rutkoff (0-3) made the start inside the circle and took her third loss of the season as she surrendered six earned runs across 2.1 innings pitched with four strikeouts.
- Redshirt senior Braelyne Crenshaw tossed the final 3.2 innings of the game, allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits while striking out four batters.
- The Mountain Lion bats were stymied by Regis starting pitcher Kylie Harpman, who pitched a complete six innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out 11 hitters.
- Case had an exceptional game out of the leadoff spot as she went 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and three RBIs in the game. Allen led the Rangers with her four RBIs that all came on her second inning grand slam.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Rangers capitalized on some shaky control from the Mountain Lion's game two starting pitcher, Lexi Rayburn, as they used four hits, six walks, and a hit batter to score eight runs in the top of the first inning.
- Facing the early 8-0 deficit, the Mountain Lion offense went down quietly in their first two innings at the plate before coming to life in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs two-out runs to cut the Ranger's lead in half at 8-4. Redshirt junior Morgan Hernandez-Belew got the scoring started in the inning with an RBI double to the right-center field gap while Heller capped the inning with a three-run line drive home run down the right field line.
- In the top of the fifth inning, Regis once again showed off their ability to string together baserunners as they tallied six hits, three walks, and one hit batter to put another eight run inning on the board and stretch their lead to 16-4.
- The Mountain Lions would show some life in the bottom of the fifth inning as Wagner lifted a deep three-run home run to center field that cut the deficit to 16-7, but the scoring would end there as Regis claimed a second run-rule win of the day.
STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions notched six hits and drew five walks in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
- Unrein put together a 2-for-3 line at the plate as the only Mountain Lion to record a multi-hit performance in the game.
- Wagner and Heller each recorded three RBIs in the game with Wagner notching her seventh home run of the season and Heller recording her third home run of the campaign.
- Rayburn (2-4) had a tough outing inside the circle as she allowed eight earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning pitched.
- Freshman Autumn Kunze entered the game in relief of Rayburn in the first inning and went on to toss 3.1 innings while surrendering six runs (five earned). Crenshaw pitched the final inning of the ballgame and gave up two earned runs during her outing with two strikeouts.
- Regis hit three home runs in the second game of the doubleheader, with one each from Campos, Allen, and Rachel Williams.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Wagner and Heller continue to lead the Mountain Lions in RBIs for the season as Wagner paces the team with 22 and Heller is right behind her with 21.
- The 16 runs allowed by the Mountain Lions in game two of the day matched a season-high, with the previous occurrence coming on Feb. 4 against Southern Nazarene University.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will close out their series against the Rangers tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
