DURANGO, CO - April 19, 2008 - The Fort Lewis College softball team defeated the visiting Adams State College Grizzlies 5-4 and 8-4 on Saturday afternoon to move into second place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) West Division standings. The Skyhawks improve to 22-19-1 overall and 18-12-1 in the RMAC, while the Grizzlies fall to 28-15 overall and 17-13 in conference play.
In the bottom of the seventh inning of game one Brooke Bails (Centennial, CO/Cherry Creek Trails) hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field that scored Felicia Cruz (Phoenix, AZ/Glendale CC) from third as the Skyhawks four-run deficit turned into a walk off sac-fly.
Bails went 1-for-2 with a run scored, two RBI and a homer, while Amber Massey (Rifle, CO/Rifle) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored also off a homerun. Cruz went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored in the opening game.
After the first two innings the Skyhawks found themselves down 4-0, but a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings put the Skyhawks on track for the comeback victory. Prior to Bails' sacrifice, Cruz had hit a single and advanced to second on the error. Andrea VanLandingham (Denver, CO/Lakewood) then hit a single and advanced the Skyhawks winning run to third base. Jenna Peters (Pinole, CA/Diablo Valley CC) was then intentionally walked to load the bases and put the force out at home. No force out was needed as the Skyhawks sealed their fourth victory in their last five games.
In game two of the doubleheader, the Grizzlies opened scoring with a single run in the opening inning. Fort Lewis answered and took a lead with two of their own runs in the bottom of the first. They added to their lead with two in the third and another one in the fourth, before the Grizzlies narrowed the lead to one with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Skyhawks put the nightcap away with another three runs in the bottom of the sixth, while holding the Grizzlies scoreless in the final half-inning.
Bails again went 1-for-2 and went deep in game two. The freshman added two RBI and a run, while Peters went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs. Cruz hit a homerun in the second game which was one of her three runs scored and her only RBI.
The Skyhawks return to action tomorrow against the Grizzlies starting at 11 a.m. on Aspen Field.
Game One - Box Score
Game Two - Box Score
