COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –  The Colorado School of Mines and University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball programs went head-to-head this afternoon to begin RMAC play. Both teams took a game to split the first two of this four game stand.  
  
INSIDE THE MATCHUP 
Final: Game 1: UCCS 15, CSM 5 (5 innings) | Game 2: UCCS 8, CSM 14 (8 innings)
Records: UCCS (6-4, 1-1 RMAC) , CSM (1-11, 1-1 RMAC) 
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.  
All-Time Series: UCCS moves to 70-64-1 all-time against Mines.  
  
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE  

• The game got off to a quick start when a fly ball to center field was caught up in the sun allowing the Orediggers' leadoff batter to advance to third on the error. With the next batter being walked, the runner on first stole second and scored the runner on third when the throw down to second made it to the outfield. The runner who stole second was able to reach third on the error as well. The next batter to the plate, Kendall Aragon, hit an RBI single that scored one giving the Orediggers a 2-0 lead. The Mountain Lions were quick to respond after a leadoff walk from Mackenzie Scott and a single from Jacqueline Berkowitz put runners on first and second. A popout would advance to Scott to third and Berkowitz stole second shortly after. A big two RBI double from Katie Steinmetz would score both runners in scoring position and tie the ballgame up 2-2 headed to the second inning.  
• In the top of the second inning, UCCS caught a runner stealing to wipe the bases clean with 1 out. A walk from Lindy French would put a runner back on base and she would then steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch. An RBI single would then follow from Kellan Ton to put CSM back on top 3-2. The bottom half of the inning was a unique one as the first three batters reached after being hit by pitches to load the bases with no outs. The Orediggers elected to switch pitchers to Ellen Shull in an effort to get out of the pinch. A wild pitch followed and advanced all runners one base and scored one on third. In the same at bat, Jacqueline Berkowitz ripped one into the outfield for a two RBI double. When the dust settled at the end of the inning it was UCCS up 5-3.  
• Just when the momentum was surely in favor of the Mountain Lions, senior Hannah Roberts of CSM took one deep with a two-run homer that tied the game back up yet again. In the bottom half of the third, a leadoff double by Laynee Case would prove to be important as she would score thanks to a sac grounder and wild pitch.  
• In the fourth, UCCS finally stopped CSM from scoring in the top half thanks to some great defensive work from the Mountain Lions. In the top half, the floodgates were opened as UCCS tacked on nine runs as four homers came down. An exciting and eventful bottom of the fourth ended with the Mountain Lions up 10 with a 15-5 lead.  
• UCCS would sit down three of the first four batters in the top of the fifth and would end the game there with a 15-5 run-rule victory.  

STATS FROM GAME ONE 

• Autumn Kunze picks up the win for UCCS and moves to 2-1 on the season. Ellen Shull records the loss for the Orediggers and moves to 0-3. 
• Mackenzie Scott hit two of the Mountain Lions' four home runs for the game with Pancost and McCombs also going deep. 
• All nine starting batters for UCCS reach base successfully in the five inning game in route to their second best offensive outing this year thus far.  

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO 

• UCCS starting pitcher Hannah Hunt struggled out of the gate walking the first three batters and setting up a bases loaded situation with no outs for CSM. The next batter was hit by a pitch to bring in a runner without allowing a single hit. Another walk would bring one more runner in before Lexie Semeyn poked a single bringing home two more for a quick 4-0 lead. Just when CSM got a little comfortable with a lead, the Mountain Lions bounced back swiftly with four of their own in the bottom of the first. Jacqueline Berkowitz got things going with a double before a Gianna Pancost single would score her. A Tayler McCombs single and two doubles from Laynee Case and Halley Redd scored 3 more resulting in a 4-4 first inning draw.  
• The second inning had little action with UCCS managing the only hits of the inning after a pair of singles from Berkowitz and McComb. 
• The start of the third began with a bang as Cassidy Chvatal led off the Orediggers with a solo shot to centerfield to take back the lead 5-4. They couldn't put together anything else as three of the next four were sat down. In the bottom half the Mountain Lions had a leadoff hit from Halley Redd but grounded into a few fielders choices and couldn't cross home plate taking the game to the top of the fourth with the score still at 5-4.
• The Mountain Lions, still down one run, put a stop to the CSM offense as three straight batters were retired on fly balls. Headed to the bottom of the fourth, UCCS once again earned a leadoff runner after a Mackenzie Scott single but still struggled to tack anything else on the scoreboard.  
• A nice double from Kendall Aragon with no outs brought a great scoring opportunity for Chvatal who delivered with a single scoring Aragon before taking second on the throw home. Kailey Morales laid down a nice bunt for a single advancing Chvatal in the process. With one out, a pop fly ball in foul territory was caught by Goldsworth at third base, resulting in Chvatal scoring just before the runner on first was thrown out at second trying to tag up as well. This made the lead 7-4 at this point going to the bottom half of the inning.  
• UCCS took an offense stand in the fifth with a Laynee Case single and a Halley Redd double. The next batter, Katie Steinmetz reached on a fielders choice where the defense elected to hold the runner rather than test the throw at first. With bases loaded, Jennavieve Goldsworth grounded to second and the out was made at second base, with this Case came home to score making it 7-5. But, that was all the Mountain Lions could put up as the next two batters would fly out.  
• Hunt was subbed off the mound for Lauren Falk who struck out her first batter. A single put a runner on first who scored when a big-time triple came through from Kellan Ton to make the lead three once again. On the other side of things, another leadoff runner led nowhere for UCCS and the trailed 5-8 headed to the seventh inning.  
• The Orediggers were three up three down in their final chance to add anymore runs to their lead and the Mountain Lions came to the plate with one last chance to win or force extras.  
• They began the inning with a ground out by responding with a Goldsworth single to center. She would take second on a passed ball and advanced to third after a bunt for a single came through for Bailey Olerich. A strikeout had UCCS down to their final out of the game when Berkowitz pulled heroics with a three-run moonshot sending the game to extras innings. 
• The game was ultimately not tied long as CSM brought some firepower to extras with a solo shot to centerfield. A single and another homer took the lead back to three for the Orediggers. And with no outs, the runs just kept coming for CSM as a single and an error scored one and left one on third base. Aragon grounded out but not before another run came through. Just when the Mountain Lions thought the damage was done another home run came from the bat of Chvatal to put the Orediggers on top 8-14. The outs eventually came and the Mountain Lions would face some work ahead in the bottom of the eighth.  
• Six runs proved to be too much to handle and the first three batters to try and mount the comeback were all sat down to end the game 8-14. 

STATS FROM GAME TWO 

• The Orediggers pick up a stellar 14 runs off of only 12 hits while UCCS strand 10 on base and struggle to match them. 
• Falk record the loss after being subbed in and throwing 2.1 innings and 61 pitches. She picks up loss number two for this year moving to (0-2). Meanwhile Taylor Wayne grabs the win moving to (1-2) in the Orediggers first win of the year. 
• Taylor Wayne goes all eight innings in the complete game and the field gave up zero errors making for a wonderful defensive showing. 
• 4 home runs propel CSM to victory while both Semeyn and Chvatal both collect 4+ RBI game.  

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE 

• This is the Orediggers first win of the year but keeps them (1-1) for RMAC play.
• Berkowitz' offensive campaign keeps pounding as she crosses the .570 mark through nine games played after a four hit evening. Her game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the second game of the doubleheader also marked the first long ball of her collegiate career. 

UP NEXT 

• Both teams will meet again tomorrow for a rematch of the action today. Play will begin at Mountain Lion Field at 11am and the back to back double header days will finish the opening weekend of RMAC play. 

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.