Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Colorado Mines (25-16 overall, 20-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) swept a softball doubleheader from Fort Lewis (10-19, 9-15) tonight at a wintery Aspen Field. The Orediggers took the opener 9-5, then won the nightcap 3-0 in a game shortened to six innings because the wind-chill dipped below 25 degrees, the RMAC's minimum temperature for softball.

Sarah Van Lingen hit a two-run homer in the first inning and finished 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Orediggers in the opening game. Libby Balogh (12-8) struck out seven Skyhawks while holding FLC to nine hits and three earned runs.

Balogh got into trouble in the bottom of the fifth when she gave up leadoff single to Chelsea Rodriguez and plunked Stephanie Janes. After Balogh nearly worked of the jam, Van Lingren botched a ground ball to load the bases. A two-run double Destinee DeHerrera knotted the score at 5-5.

The Orediggers reclaimed the lead with a three-run sixth. FLC starter Kassie Haubert (8-8) retired the first two batters and induced a soft grounder to second by Allysia Cisneros that Natalie Janes booted to keep the inning alive. Later in the inning, Macy Jones ripped a two-run triple to the fence in center to provide much of the damage.

Haubert struck out two for the Skyhawks, allowing 11 hits and five earned runs.

DeHerrera went 3-for-3 with three RBI in game one, while Natalie Janes was 2-for-3.

In the nightcap, Mines' Kelly Unkrich (13-7) pitched a two-hit gem in the weather-shorted, six-inning game. After giving up a leadoff single to DeHerrera, she retired 17 straight before DeHerrera added a single to right with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Unkrich then struck out Jordan Willis to end the game.

Mines got all the offense it would need in the top of the first. Brook Benson and Jones each walked, eventually scoring on a single by Van Lingen and an RBI ground out by Sarah Lustgraaf.

Benson walked in the game's only other run in the Mines half of the fourth.

Fort Lewis pitcher Alyse Harris (2-8) was strong, allowing just three runs on four hits. She struggled with control, though, walking five Orediggers and throwing one wild pitch.

In the day's first doubleheader, Mesa State (17-14, 15-11) swept Regis (21-15, 15-11) 3-1 and 12-8 to complete a perfect 4-0 record in the two-day pod games between RMAC East and West Division teams in Durango.

All four games were played in extreme weather. Snow, rain and sleet delayed the second Mesa/Regis tilt for about 10 minutes, while wind gusts in the 40s made playing conditions difficult.

Fort Lewis hits the road next weekend for RMAC games at Adams State (21-18, 13-13) next Saturday (noon and 2 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.). The trip will mark a special homecoming for FLC head coach Kira Zeiter, a former Grizzlies softball standout and assistant coach.