Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PUEBLO, Colo. – Playing in their second pod of the season, the Fort Lewis College softball team started the weekend with two wins against New Mexico Highlands University (W, 4-3), and host school Colorado State University – Pueblo (W, 8-2).
 
The wins improve the Skyhawks to 16-12 overall and 12-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
"We feel good as a team with getting two wins today," said Fort Lewis College head coach Kira Zeiter.  "We came out slow in game one but recovered nicely in game two with the intensity.  We look to bring that momentum from today into tomorrow's games and continue to play good softball."
 
In the opening game of the day, Fort Lewis took a 1-0 lead against New Mexico Highlands after four scoreless innings by both teams.  Myndee Thompson drove in Chelsea Rodriguez in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Cowgirls jumped to a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth off of a two-run single.  Fort Lewis regained the lead their next time at bat, 4-2.  Rodriguez singled to left field that scored Kaitlyn Bending.  Rodriguez and Missy Fundora scored the second and third runs of the inning after Thompson reached first base on an error by the third baseman that brought in two runs. 
 
Victoria Johnson pitched the first five innings of the game before Olivia Goldberg entered the game to earn the win after one inning of work.  Kiley Raica pitched the final inning of the game for the Skyhawks to post her first save of the season.
 
Rodriguez recorded a game high three hits to go with two runs and one run batted in.  Her single in the first inning broke the career record for most hits at Fort Lewis (174, Natalie Janes, 2009-2012).
 
Facing the home team in game two, the Skyhawks never trailed against the ThunderWolves, who entered the weekend one spot above Fort Lewis in the league standings.
 
In the top of the second inning, Bending singled to center field to drive in Thompson for a 1-0 lead.
 
CSU-Pueblo tied the game in the bottom of the second before the Skyhawks added two more runs off of Thompson's two-run shot in the third for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Cowgirls homered in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 3-2.  After a scoreless fifth inning, the Skyhawks loaded the bases before the Pack secured an out.  Adriana Rosthenhausler drove in two runs when she singled to right field to score Mariah Stuart and Mandy Owens.
 
The Skyhawks headed into the top of the seventh with a 5-2 lead.  Destinee DeHerrera starting the final inning with a home run to left field.  Hayley Bolyard added an insurance run after she doubled to score Thompson for her third run of the game.  Bolyard then scored the final run of the game off of Stuart's single.
 
Fort Lewis held the Cowgirls hitless in their final batting appearance to seal the win, 8-2.
 
Katie Watkins earned her third win of the season after working just one inning.  Kiley Raica finished the final six innings, allowing just one run on four hits.
 
Bolyard led the Skyhawks with three hits.  Thompson and Bending also recorded multiple hits (two each) against the Pack.  Thompson scored a game high three runs and joined Rosthenhausler to record two runs batted in apiece.
 
Sunday's games against CSU-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands have been moved back two hours due to weather.  The Skyhawks will face the ThunderWolves as 12 p.m., followed by the Cowgirls contest at 2 p.m.