NMHU 15, FLC 9
FLC 6, NMHU 3

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Chelsea Rodriguez smacked a round tripper and two-bagger and Kassie Haubert went the distance in the circle as Fort Lewis (24-21 overall, 22-14 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated New Mexico Highlands (24-26, 16-20) 6-3 in the second half of today's doubleheader to salvage a split. The host Cowgirls used a seven-run fourth frame to rally for a 15-9 win in the opener.
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“It was nice to rebound in game two the way we did,” said second-year FLC head coach Kira Zeiter. “Solid defense, pitching, and hitting, and that is what you need consistently.”

Rodriguez delivered the third of back-to-back-to-back doubles to open the second game. Destinee DeHerrera led off with a two-bagger to left center and Cierra Walters moved her to third with a double down the left field line. Rodriguez plated both when she blasted a double to right center. All totaled, the Skyhawks scored three runs in the first on five hits.

Rodriguez smashed her 14th tater of the year in the third in what proved to be the game-winning RBI. She finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Myndee Thompson, who went 3-for-4 in the game, and Jordan Willis added insurance in the fifth with RBI singles.

Haubert was solid on the mound in improving to 9-5 on the year. She allowed three runs on eight hits and four walks.

Erica Wieck allowed six runs (five earned) in five innings of work, striking out three. Jessica Brink pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

Devon Paiz was the lone Cowgirl with multiple hits, while Lynette Directo hit a solo homer in the fourth.

Fort Lewis outhit Highlands 11-8 in game two.

While offense was hard to come by in the nightcap, the opener was a different story. The two teams combined for 31 hits, nine of which went for extra bases, and 24 runs. Ultimately, it was a rocky fourth that stymied the Skyhawks.

Fort Lewis plated four runs in back-to-back innings in the third and fourth to take an 8-4 lead. Kamali'i Peneku's two-run double in the third and DeHerrera's two-run homer to left in the fourth put FLC starter Alexis Villegas in the position to win.

But the wheels came off in the fourth. An error by Skyhawk second baseman Natalie Janes put the leadoff runner aboard. Four of the next five batters singled to chase Villegas (6-7) and put her on the hook for the loss as she was responsible for the two runners that relief pitcher Olivia Bergman inherited. Brittany Potter and Jenelle Klassen greeted Bergman with doubles, though to put the Cowgirls ahead. An error by FLC's Thompson allowed two unearned runs to score later in the frame.

Highlands added one more run in the fifth and two in the sixth en route to the 15-9 win.

Villegas allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 3.1 innings. Bergman yielded six runs (four earned) in 2.2 innings of relief.

Brink (10-9) pitched 7 innings and allowed five runs on 11 hits. Brink was briefly lifted for reliever Klassen in the fourth, but failed to record an out while facing five batters. Brink reentered the game with a runner in scoring position, but then retired three of four batters face to stop the bleeding at 8-4 and set up Highlands' own fourth-inning explosion.

Lost in the opener was a solid offensive performance by DeHerrera, who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Molly McDougall went 4-for-4 with four RBI for the Cowgirls in the opener.

The Skyhawks' chances of winning their first-ever RMAC regular season title are fading fast, but the pack is tight near the top of the league standings with just one week left in the regular season.

Colorado State-Pueblo (22-11, .667) was snowed out today against Chadron State and will not make the game up. The ThunderWolves, however, still have six games remaining while most of RMAC's top teams play four more.

Colorado Mines (22-12, .647) is in second, followed closely by Colorado Christian (23-13, .639), Fort Lewis (22-14, .611), Nebraska-Kearney (19-13, .594), and Colorado Mesa (21-15, .583).

The RMAC regular season champion will host the league playoffs, scheduled for April 26-28. The top eight teams qualify for the league's postseason fiesta.

Fort Lewis has one weekend remaining in its chase for the league regular season crown — at fifth-place Nebraska-Kearney. Doubleheaders are slated to start at 11 a.m. (MDT) next Saturday and 10 a.m. (MDT) next Sunday.

Though improbable, a sweep over the Lopers would give FLC 28 wins for the season, matching the school record for victories set by the 2008 Skyhawk squad that won the RMAC playoffs and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It also may be just enough to give the Fort its first RMAC regular season crown, especially if the teams in front of FLC falter.

“Next weekend, we will be working on playing solid, consistent softball during every game,” said Zeiter.