CMU 12, FLC 1 (5 innings)
FLC 12, CMU 5

DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa split a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball doubleheader today at a windy Aspen Field, with the Mavericks winning the opener 12-1 and the Skyhawks taking the nightcap 12-5.

“It was nice how we rebounded in game two, behind a nice pitching performance,” said second-year FLC head coach Kira Zeiter. “We hit the ball consistently throughout the lineup and kept the pressure on. We went back to playing the type of softball that we want to and continued going in the right direction.”

Fort Lewis (14-11 overall, 12-4 RMAC) exploded for eight runs in the first three innings of the nightcap to salvage a split with the Mavs (11-9, 9-7). Mesa rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth to stave off the eight-run rule.

Rightfielder Kaylynn Harmon had a perfect game at the plate for the Skyhawks, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored, a run batted in, and her fifth double of the year.

Third baseman Chelsea Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI and hit a laser over the fence in left center for her team-leading ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the second to plate Harmon and stretch the lead to 6-2. Fort Lewis came into the game ranked fourth in NCAA Division II in home runs (1.57 per game), but Rodriguez's shot was the only long ball the Skyhawks would hit in the twin bill.

Catcher Hayley Bolyard went 3-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and her fifth double of the campaign.

Skyhawk starter Kassie Haubert (5-2) pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks. She struck out one Maverick batter before being lifted for Katie Watkins. The reliever worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, surrendering four hits and one base on balls.

Fort Lewis roughed up CMU starter Courtney Maihi (7-5) in her lone inning of work in game two. Maihi surrendered six runs (all earned) on six hits and two walks.

Jessica Albertson, Lisa Pille, and Megan Smith each had two hits for the Mavs in the second game, with Pille belting her second homer of the year and driving in three.

Maihi fared much better in the opener, picking up the win while weaving a two-hit, two-walk gem. The only run the Skyhawks scored against her was unearned, when Rodriguez led off the fourth with a walk and scored when Pille booted a ground ball that would have been FLC's third out.

The Mavs did most of their damage in the first frame. The leadoff batter, Taylor Gross, was awarded first base on catcher's interference on the game's second pitch. The error proved costly. Albertson and Danielle Vallie followed with seeing-eye singles. Maihi hit a ball that died in the dirt in front of FLC starter Stephanie Janes. Janes charged and threw it to Bolyard at home plate in what appeared to be the first out. Instead, Bolyard, who was standing on the front of the plate, swiped at the sliding Gross — even though it was a force out with the bases loaded. Her antics appeared to confuse the home plate umpire, who ruled Gross safe.

So instead of having two outs with two runners on, the Mavs had a one-run lead with nobody out. Mesa continued to play station-to-station softball for the rest of the frame, plating four more runs on three more singles and a walk. All totaled, CMU scored six runs on five hits. The leadoff error and the fielder's choice on Maihi's squibber led to an inning in which FLC never came back.

After giving up a leadoff double down the leftfield line to Cierra Walters and a first-inning walk to Rodriguez, Maihi settled down, retiring eight straight in the first through third innings.

Meanwhile, CMU kept their feet on the gas pedal to build an 11-0 lead before FLC scratched in its lone, unearned run in the bottom of the fourth.

Janes (1-4) went 3.1 innings, allowing 11 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and three walks. Reliever Alexis Villegas worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit and two walks.

Pille and Smith each had three hits for CMU, while Shannon McClenahan went 2-for-3 with four RBI in the opener. All totaled, the Mavs sprayed 12 hits, of which only two went for extra bases — doubles by McClenahan and Pille.

Fort Lewis had just two hits — Walters' leadoff double and Natalie Janes' fourth-inning single.

The Skyhawks still led the RMAC standings at day's end with a 12-4 mark, but are now tied with Colorado Christian (9-3) in winning percentage (.750).

The split with CMU also gave FLC the season series by a 3-1 clip. The Skyhawks swept the Mavs last Tuesday in Grand Junction, rallying in the seventh for 18-15 and 10-9 wins.

Fort Lewis embarks on its longest road trip of the season tomorrow for northern Nebraska, where it faces Chadron State (6-15, 4-8) at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. and noon Sunday.

Colorado Mesa continues its road trip at UC-Colorado Springs (9-9, 7-7), where it plays the Mountain Lions in doubleheader action Saturday and Sunday.