UCCS 5, FLC 4
FLC 10, UCCS 6

FARMINGTON, N.M. — Hayley Bolyard went 3-for-4 in the second game to lift Fort Lewis (11-10 overall, 9-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a split against UC-Colorado Springs (8-6, 6-4) this afternoon at Rickets Field #3. The Mountain Lions held on for a 5-4 victory in the opener, but saw Bolyard and company explode for a 10-2 lead en route to a 10-6 win in the nightcap.

Bolyard went 3-for-4 in the second game with four runs batted in, two runs scored, a single, a double, and a two-run homer.

“In game two, we rebounded,” said second-year FLC head coach Kira Zeiter, whose team roughed up UCCS pitcher Korey Kulpins for 10 runs and 11 hits in the second game, including three extra-base knocks. “We still need to be able to finish the game off.”

Fort Lewis capitalized on two Mountain Lion errors and a bases-loaded walk to build a 3-0 lead in the first frame.

UCCS responded with a two-run blast by Christina Blanton to trim the lead to 3-2 in the top of the second.

The Skyhawks tacked on three more in the second, thanks in large part to Bolyard's sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot. The sophomore catcher dropped another big hit in the third, this time a line drive double into the gap in right center that scored two. Through three frames, FLC had a commanding 10-2 lead, having pounded out eight hits.

Kulpins (2-3) regained control after that, though, scattering three hits in the next three innings as the Mountain Lions staged a rally. A solo home run by Lara Mathewson in the top of the fifth cut the lead to seven — an all-important run because it kept UCCS from trailing by eight runs. In collegiate softball, games are called after five innings due to the eight-run rule.

They scratched out another run in the sixth on three hits and an error, chasing Skyhawk starter Kassie Haubert (4-2) after 5.2 innings. Haubert surrendered four earned runs on 10 hits, but struck out three.

Katie Watkins pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, but had some scary moments. After retiring the first batter of the seventh, she gave up three hits, a walk, and two runs. A baserunning error by UCCS' Marissa Wallace — a Farmington High School graduate playing before a large contingent of family and friends — helped the second run score, but left her team with just one out to work with in a 10-6 game. Watkins induced a ground out to third by pinch hitter Becca Needler to end the rally and the game.

In addition to Bolyard, Myndee Thompson (2-for-4, two runs scored) and Cierra Walters (2-for-4, one RBI, one run) swung big bats for the Skyhawks.

Blanton went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs for UCCS.

Game one produced a far different result for the Skyhawks, who were held to six hits in the 5-4 Mountain Lion victory.

“The difference came down to the two teams at the plate,” said Zeiter. “Six hits isn't going to be enough against a really good UCCS team.”

At the start, it looked as if FLC might cruise to an easy win. FLC starter Alexis Villegas had a one-two-three first inning, striking out two and getting the other to foul out to left field. FLC's leadoff hitter, Destinee DeHererra, smashed a line drive into the fence in left center and the next batter, Kaylynn Harmon, blasted her fourth home run of the year to right center to stake the Skyhawks to a quick, 2-0 lead.

UCCS answered in the top of the second with a leadoff ground-rule double down the left field line by Jessica Belsterling and an infield single by Emily Jennings. After reaching first, though, Jennings was caught snoozing and picked off, pitcher to second base. Blanton plated Belsterling with a single through the hole on the right side and then stole second. Errors, which would plague the Skyhawks throughout the first game, came into play later in the frame. A fielding miscue by Jordan Willis with two outs kept the inning alive and allowed Blanton to reach third. A double steal tied the game.

An error by Natalie Janes in the fourth helped UCCS take a 3-2 lead. Then a pair of errors by Chelsea Rodriguez in the fifth — the first one on a misplayed grounder, the second on the ensuing throw — helped the Mountain Lions build a 5-2 advantage.

Villegas (3-3) left the game after 4.1 innings and deserved a better fate. She ended up taking the loss despite allowing just two earned runs (five runs total) and eight hits. She struck out five of the 22 batters she faced.

Stephanie Janes was strong in relief, working 2.2 innings as the Skyhawks staged a late rally. Bolyard led off the sixth with a big homer to left center. After Kamali'i Peneku drew a walk and advanced to second on a groundout, Janes nearly tied the score with a high, deep fly ball to straightaway center. The bomb eluded UCCS centerfielder Jen Schellenberg, who crashed through the fencing. After the umpires convened to discuss whether or not Janes' blast was a game-tying round-tripper, the play was determined to be a ground-rule double, plating Peneku and placing Janes at second. Olivia Bergman was inserted as a pinch runner, but Thompson and DeHererra struck out on either side of a Walters walk that put the go-ahead run on board.

Harmon reached on an error to lead off the seventh and was lifted for pinch runner Vivienne Yeagy. Yeagy advanced to second when the next batter, Chelsea Rodriguez, grounded to first. But Bolyard, who popped up to second, and Peneku, who struck out, couldn't produce the tying RBI.

Janes was the lone Skyhawk with multiple hits in the opener, going 3-for-3 with one RBI and a double.

Belsterling, Mathewson, and Emily Jennings each went 2-for-4 for UCCS.

Belsterling (6-3) pitched seven strong innings to earn the victory, allowing just four runs and six hits while striking out eight.

The same two teams wrap up a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow at Ricketts Field #3. The games were moved south due to the snowpack on Aspen Field, the Skyhawks' usual home turf. Fans are reminded that Daylight Savings Time begins tomorrow.