FLC 12, CSC 2 (5 innings)
CSC 11, FLC 2 (5 innings)

CHADRON, Neb. — Offense was on display during Saturday's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference doubleheaders between Chadron State and Fort Lewis. The two teams combined to score 27 runs and 29 hits in two five-inning games. Fort Lewis took the first game 12-2 before Chadron State put things together in the day's finale, winning 11-2.

“The difference today came down to offense. In game one, we had 13 hits and in game two we only had two hits,” said second-year FLC skipper Kira Zeiter. “Tomorrow we look forward to coming out and playing both games like we did in game one.”

Fort Lewis, which entered the day leading the conference, fell to 15-12 overall and 13-5 in the league. With the win, Chadron State snapped its recent 6-game losing streak and improves to 7-16 overall and 5-9 in the RMAC.

In the first game, Fort Lewis hit three home runs and added four doubles en route to its 12-2 victory. The Skyhawks scored one run in the top of the first and then exploded in the second and third innings, scoring six and five runs, respectively.

Hayley Bolyard led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with five runs batted in while smashing her seventh homer of the season. Kaylynn Harmon, Natalie Janes and Stephanie Janes drove in two runs each, with the latter belting her third long shot of the year. Junior outfielder Erica Conley also hit a round-tripper, the first of her collegiate career.

Alexis Villegas (5-3) worked four strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three Eagles. Olivia Bergman retired all three batters she faced in relief, striking out two.

After struggling to put the ball in play during the first game, Chadron State left no doubt in the second contest. The Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the inning and then added four in the second and six in the fourth en route to the 11-2 victory.

The bottom of CSC's lineup came up big. The seventh, eighth and ninth batters — Katelyn McBeth, Ashlynn Marino, and Amanda Einspahr — combined to score four runs and drove in three of their own. McBeth hit a two-run single down the left field line that blew the game open in the fourth and Marino went 2-for-3. Einspahr added an RBI of her own and she also scored twice.

While the bottom of the lineup did its part, the top of the lineup packed a punch. Nikki Ritzen, Brittany Chacon, and Angela Jay each drove in a pair of runs and they combined to have five hits between them.

Stephanie Townsend (3-7) earned the win in the circle. In five innings of work, she allowed just two hits and struck out seven.

Kassie Haubert (5-3) took the loss for the Skyhawks, giving up seven runs (four earned) on five hits, a walk, and a hit batter in three innings. While perfect in relief in game one, Bergman was roughed up for four runs on five hits in one inning of work in the nightcap.

The two teams will play another doubleheader Sunday, starting at 10 a.m.