DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College softball team started their home season off with a bang after posting two wins against Black Hills State Friday at Aspen Field.  The Skyhawks rallied back in the seventh inning in game one to win 7-6.  Game two of the doubleheader resulted in one run in the seventh inning to tie the game and send it to extra innings where the Skyhawks were victorious, 3-2 (nine innings).
 
"It feels good to begin conference 2-0 with two hard fought wins," said head coach Kira Zeiter.  "Our team stepped up when we needed it, and it was a good experience to come through in the closed games."
 
In the opening game, Black Hills State jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first half inning.  The Skyhawks cut the lead to 3-2 after their first inning of offense.  With two outs, Lauren Caldwell singled to center field to drive in Adriana Rosthenhausler.  Tristen Gilbert then hit another single to center field to drive in Caldwell. 
 
Myndee Thompson tied the game in the bottom of the third after hitting a single to the outfield.  Thompson was caught stealing second but drove in Rosthenhausler for 3-3 tie.  BHSU took a 4-3 lead in the fourth and added two more runs in the fifth inning for a 6-3 lead.
 
The Skyhawks would come back to tie the game in the fifth inning with three runs on three hits.
 
With the game tied 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Jeovanna Rios singled to center field to drive in Tristen Gilbert for the game winning run.
 
Victoria Johnson pitched the complete game for her third win of the season.  She allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits and fanned eight batters.
 
Caldwell finished the game going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Fort Lewis notched 14 hits against the Yellow Jackets.
 
In the second game of the afternoon, both teams remained scoreless through the first five innings.  The Yellow Jackets hit a two run shot when Alexis Shaff batted in Katherine Drake for the lead.  In the bottom of the sixth inning, Myndee Thompson reached first base on a fielder's choice before stealing second base.  Lauren Caldwell advanced Thompson to third on a sacrifice hit for the second out of the inning.  Thompson crossed home plate for the first run of the game for FLC after a throwing error was committed on Tristen Gilbert's hit.
 
Missy Fundora helped tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh.  Fundora singled to center field to score Mandy Owens from third base that sent the game into extra innings.  In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, Thompson hit in the game winning run when she singled up the middle to score Kaitlyn Bending.
 
Fundora and Rios accounted for two hits each as the Skyhawks finished the game with eight.
 
Kiley Raica earned her first win of the season after working all nine innings in the circle.  Raica allowed two runs on eight hits and fanned eight batters.
 
Both teams will square off again tomorrow morning in doubleheader action at Aspen Field.  First pitched is slated for 11 a.m.