FLC 9, BHSU 3
FLC 6, BHSU 4

FARMINGTON, N.M. — Fort Lewis (4-7 overall, 2-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) relied on clutch relief pitching and timely power at the plate to sweep Black Hills State (0-7, 0-2) today at Ricketts Field No. 3.

Chelsea Rodriguez and Natalie Janes hit home runs while Stephanie Janes worked 2.2 innings of relief to lead the Skyhawks to a 9-3 win in the opener.

Olivia Bergman inherited two base runners and a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning of the nightcap as FLC held on for a 6-4 win.

In the opener, Rodriguez sent a blistering drive over the fence in left center to stake the Skyhawks to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. She hit a long RBI double to the next inning to highlight a five-run explosion and give FLC a commanding 6-0 lead.

Natalie Janes led off the fifth with a towering blast to down the leftfield line that not only cleared the women's fence, but one-hopped the men's fence, extending the lead to 9-2.

Kassie Haubert (2-2) pitched 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Stephanie Janes allow just one run on three hits and a pair of walks.

Jordan Willis went 3-for-3 in the opener with a double and two runs scored.

Katie Wagner (0-3) pitched 5.1 innings for the Yellow Jackets, allowing 10 hits but just four earned runs. Her defense committed two errors behind her, but both occurred in FLC's big, five-run second.

Allie Alverson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and hit a two-run blast to right center in the fourth.

The second game looked to be all Fort Lewis from the start. After BHSU starter Alex Huntington retired the first two batters, she hit Rodriguez with a pitch to keep the inning alive. The Skyhawks strung together singles by Hayley Bolyard, Mindy Thompson, and Natalie Janes before freshman right fielder Kaylynn Harmon blasted a three-run shot to right center to give FLC a 5-0 lead.

Yellow Jacket first baseman Meagan Bell trimmed the lead to 5-1 in the top of the second, but the Skyhawks quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Bolyard blasted a shot to deep left that BHSU outfielder Nia Shumpert pulled back over the fence, robbing Bolyard of a grand slam and the Skyhawks of a 9-1 lead.

The momentum turned on the play. The Yellow Jackets clawed back into the game, scoring a run in the fourth on Kelsie Chambers' homer and two more in the fifth on three straight two-out singles. Their rally chased FLC starter Alexis Villegas and brought in freshman pitcher Bergman.

Bergman immediately induced a long fly out from Chambers to end the rally. The freshman wound up working 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn her first collegiate save and give Villegas (2-2) — last week's RMAC Pitcher of the Week — her second victory in as many outings.

The Skyhawks added an insurance run in the sixth when Bolyard singled in Kaitlyn Bending.

Bergman pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out two Yellow Jackets.

Kyla Thiesen hit a three-run homer and Stacy Fourni followed with a two-run shot to provide all the offense the Beavers would need.

Bolyard went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored in the second game to pace the Skyhawk offense. Harmon went 2-for-2 with three RBI.

Bell went 2-for-3 to lead the Yellow Jackets.

The two teams conclude their four-game series tomorrow with another doubleheader at Rickets Field. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m., with the second game to start at noon.'

The series was moved to Farmington due to snowpack at FLC's usual home turf, Aspen Field. Admission is free.