FLC 3, MSCD 2
DENVER — Natalie Janes hit a two-run double in the sixth and
Kassie Haubert pitched a five hitter as No. 3 Fort Lewis defeated No. 6 Metro State 3-2 today at the Regis Softball Field in the first round of the
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball playoffs.
With the Skyhawks trailing 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Janes drove a double into the gap in left center to score
Chelsea Rodriguez and pinch runner
Breanna Berens.
“In the sixth inning, we came up clutch hitting from the middle of the lineup,” said second-year FLC head coach
Kira Zeiter, whose No. 3 hitter, Rodriguez, and cleanup batter,
Stephanie Janes, had back-to-back, one-out singles to left. “Natalie came up with a tremendous double that was a huge momentum boost in our direction. That was one of the most hard-fought games all year long on both sides.”
The Skyhawks had three hits in the inning against Metro State's Aubree Maul (18-8), who surrendered just a second inning single to
Natalie Janes and a third inning triple to
Erica Conley in the previous five innings. Maul struck out seven Skyhawks in her seven innings of work and was the lone Roadrunner to collect multiple hits at the plate, going 2-for-3.
Not to be outdone was Skyhawk starter Haubert (11-6), who struck out five and matched Maul's effort by allowing just five hits.
“Kassie had a phenomenal pitching performance,” said Zeiter.
Metro State catcher Kelsey Tillery, who leads all of NCAA Division II in homers, hit a line drive over the fence in center in the third to draw first blood and give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.
Conley's one-out triple to right led to the equalizer in the bottom of the third, scoring on a hard-hit
Cierra Walters grounder that ate up Roadrunner shortstop Susie Oury.
Metro State manufactured the go-ahead run in the fourth when Brittney Padilla drew a bases-loaded walk to plate pinch runner Amanda Taney.
Fort Lewis (27-23) was the lone higher seed to win a first round game. No. 8 Colorado Mesa (25-20) upset RMAC regular season champion and No. 1 seed Colorado Mines 4-0 this afternoon in Golden; No. 7 Regis (22-25) beat No. 2 Colorado State-Pueblo 2-1 in Golden; and No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney (25-22) beat No. 4 Colorado Christian 7-0.
The Skyhawks will face seventh-seeded Regis in the second round at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Regis Softball Field. Although the Skyhawks are playing on the Rangers' home turf, FLC will sit in the home dugout, bat second, and appear as “Regis” on the scoreboard while RU will be the “guests.” Tomorrow's meeting is the first of the season between the two schools.
In the loser's bracket of the double elimination tournament, the top two teams were eliminated later this afternoon. Following its loss to Fort Lewis, Metro State (26-26) knocked out Colorado State-Pueblo (26-19) 3-1 at the Regis Softball field to send the ThunderWolves home. Also in late action Thursday, Colorado Christian (29-26) sent host Mines (29-24) home with a 6-4 loss, leaving Fort Lewis as the highest remaining seed in the tournament.
The Skyhawks are guaranteed of at least two Friday games.
