GCU 10, FLC 9 (8 innings)
FLC 3, NDNU 1
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Natalie Janes hit a two-run homer and
Alexis Villegas allowed just seven hits as Fort Lewis (2-7 overall) defeated Notre Dame de Namur 3-1 today as the Skyhawks salvaged a split in the second day of action at the Grand Canyon University Invitational.
The Argos took a 1-0 lead in the first when they sprayed three hits off of Villegas, but their lead lasted just minutes. Janes smashed her second tater of the season in the top of the second to give the junior pitcher all the offense she'd need. Villegas allowed just four hits over the next six frames and finished the game with three strikeouts and no walks to improve to 1-1 on the season.
“Alexis pitched amazingly. She pitched very well,” said second-year FLC head coach
Kira Zeiter.
The Skyhawks added an insurance run in the fifth when
Kaylynn Harmon singled to center to drive in
Chelsea Rodriguez, who had doubled to left two batters earlier.
Erica Conley went 2-for-2 for the Skyhawks, while Rodriguez went 2-for-4 against Notre Dame de Namur.
Hillary Ruddick took the loss for the Argos, allowing just seven hits and three walks.
Notre Dame de Namur's Janae Reyes had three of her team's seven hits.
“I was much happier with the way we played as a complete team today,” said Zeiter. “We had solid pitching, timely hitting, solid defense, and I feel like we're back to playing the way we want to play as Fort Lewis softball.”
Zeiter's team nearly pulled out two victories today, but lost to host Grand Canyon 10-9 in extra innings this morning.
Breanna Berens grounded out with two outs and the bases loaded, ending a two-run Skyhawk rally in the bottom of the eighth against the Antelopes.
Grand Canyon (6-6 overall) was fortunate to force extra innings. The Skyhawks carried a 6-4 lead into the top of the seventh, but FLC pitcher
Kassie Haubert walked leadoff hitter Kelsey Barak and gave up a single to Lauren Regester to give the Antelopes a chance to play small ball. GCU clawed out three runs to take a 7-6 lead.
The Skyhawks tied the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh when
Cierra Walters singled in
Destinee DeHerrera with one out. A single by Harmon should have loaded the bases, but Walters got caught in a pickle between third and home trying to score the winning run and was eventually tagged out by GCU catcher Lisa Tarnowski to end the frame.
Barak hit a three-run homer in the top of the eighth to put the Antelopes back in front 10-7. The duo of Barak and Regester were dynamic for GCU, as Barak went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and two runs and Regester went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and one run scored.
The Skyhawks pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth and loaded the bases before Berens' ground out to third.
Haubert fell to 1-2 on the season by allowing 10 runs (eight earned), 11 hits, and six walks in eight innings of work. She struck out a pair of Antelopes.
Despite surrendering five runs and seven hits in 2.2 innings of relief, Kiley Raica earned the victory for Grand Canyon. Starting pitcher Kiki Sepulveda lasted just three innings and allowed three runs, all of which were unearned.
Fielding woes plagued the Antelopes throughout, as they committed seven errors.
Walters had a strong morning at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Rodriguez, last week's
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week, went 3-for-4 and scored a run.
The Skyhawks open their home schedule and RMAC play next weekend when they host Black Hills State (S.D.) (0-4 overall entering today's competition) in doubleheaders next Saturday (11 a.m., 1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon, 2 p.m.). Due to the snowpack on FLC's Aspen Field, the games may be forced south to Farmington, N.M. Announcements of any changes in location and starting times will be posted at www.goskyhawks.com.
The game marks Black Hills State's entry into the RMAC. The Yellow Jackets will become full RMAC members during the 2012-13 season, replacing Nebraska-Kearney. BHSU and UNK are members of the RMAC for the 2012 softball season.
