MSCD 10, FLC 3
FLC 11, MSCD 3 (6 innings)

DURANGO, Colo. — Kassie Haubert tossed a nine-hit gem as Fort Lewis (22-17 overall, 20-10 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) salvaged a split today by beating Metro State (17-23, 14-14) 11-3 in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Aspen Field

The Roadrunners took the opener 10-3 behind the pitching of Aubree Maul.

“During game one, it took us awhile to get our bats going against a solid pitching performance,” said second-year FLC softball coach Kira Zeiter. “But in game two, we did a better job stringing hits together behind Kassie's great pitching performance.”

Haubert (8-4) allowed just three runs — two of which were unearned — and matched a season-high with five strikeouts. Of the nine hits she surrendered, just one — a fifth-inning double to Kasey Nichols — went for extra bases.

Meanwhile, the Skyhawk bats were hot behind her, as FLC sprayed 12 hits. Destinee DeHerrera went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Her second cleared the bases and ended the game due to the eight-run rule in the sixth. Kaylynn Harmon went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer to center in the fourth. Stephanie Janes went 2-for-4 for FLC.

Nichols and Annalyse Garcia each went 2-for-3 for the Roadrunners in the nightcap.

Metro State starter Jordyn Randolph (4-9) lasted four innings, surrendering six runs on nine hits while striking out three. Reliever Brittany Moss went the final 1.2 innings, allowing five runs (all unearned) on three hits.

The opener was a 180-degree switch. Maul (12-7) struck out seven and allowed just five hits and three runs in seven innings.

At the plate, Metro State was explosive, amassing 10 runs, 16 hits and 10 runs batted in. Kelsey Tillery went 3-for-5 with four RBI and put an exclamation point on game one by smashing a grand slam — her 19th bomb of the year — in the seventh. Garcia also homered for the Roadrunners.

Most of Fort Lewis' offense came off the bat of Chelsea Rodriguez, who lined her 13th homer of the year over the fence in left center in the third to knot the score at 2-2.

The game remained that way until the sixth, when Metro State amassed four runs on four hits and one Skyhawk miscue. Molly Clark and Nichols each delivered two-run singles in the frame.

Fort Lewis cut the lead by a run in their half of the sixth on a pair of hits and an error, closing the gap to 6-3 before Tillery's blast in the seventh silenced FLC's chance of a late rally.

Alexis Villegas (6-4) gave up six runs (only two of which were earned) on 12 hits while striking out three to take the loss for FLC. Olivia Bergman worked an inning of relief, but was roughed up for four hits and four earned runs, all of which came on Tillery's slam.

The split caused the Skyhawks to slip into second place in the RMAC standings, just percentage points behind Colorado State-Pueblo (21-11, 19-9, .679). The ThunderWolves swept New Mexico Highlands today.

The same two teams meet at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow to wrap up their four-game set. Saturday's twin bill marks the final home appearances for Skyhawk seniors Stephanie and Natalie Janes and Jordan Willis.