PUEBLO, CO - February 10, 2007 - The Fort Lewis College softball team fell 2-5 to Regis University in their fifth and final game of the CSU-Pueblo spring tournament this weekend. The Skyhawks who also lost 3-13 to Fort Hays earlier in the day, fall to 0-5 on the season, while the Rangers improve to 3-1 on the season and Fort Hays improved to 4-1.
Against Fort Hays State the Skyhawks went down 3-0 after the first inning when the Tigers recorded three runs on four hits, including a triple and a home run. In the top of the third inning the Tigers added another three runs. In the bottom of the third the Skyhawks scored their first of the game on a two-out single by Felicia Cruz (Phoenix, AZ/Glendale CC). The Skyhawks then left three on base in the remainder of the inning. Fort Hays added another three runs in the top of the fourth inning and four more in the fifth. The Skyhawks tried to rally in the bottom of the fifth inning with two more runs, but the Tigers got the Skyhawks to hit into a double-play and stroke out the final out of the game with one runner left in scoring position
The Skyhawks went 5-for-19 at the plate and recorded only two errors, but they allowed 15 Tiger hits. Stevie Benedict (Hillsboro, OR/College of the Siskiyous) went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI. Mary Oppenhein (Bountiful, UT/Garden City CC) recorded the loss on the mound with three strikeouts and 11 earned runs.
In their second game of the day, the Skyhawks went down 0-4 after the first inning and against struggled to get back in the game. The Rangers added one more in the third with the Skyhawks answering with their first run in the top of the fourth inning. A Benedict double to center field drove in Andrea VanLandinham (Denver, CO/Lakewood) from third and put Jenna Peters (Pinole, CA/Diablo Valley CC) on third base with two outs. Benedict recorded another RBI two innings later as the Skyhawks tried to even the score. Her single to second base scored Cruz from second to bring the score to 2-5. the remaining inning remained scoreless.
The Skyhawks recorded five hits, scored two runs and left four players on base. Benedict and VanLandinham both went 2-for-3 at the plate, with Benedict driving in both the Skyhawks' runs. Marriah Jones (Chinle, AZ/Chinle) recorded the loss on the mound, but she added seven strikeouts.
The Skyhawks finished the CSU-Pueblo tournament winless (0-5) after losing starting pitcher Cary Moone (Waterflow, NM/Georgia Southern) yesterday to an injury in their first game. They return to action on Saturday, March 1st when they visit Colorado College for a pair of double-headers.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
