COLORADO SPRINGS – April 19, 2015 – Playing in their second RMAC pod of the season, the Fort Lewis College softball team swept Colorado School of Mines and split with host school University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
In Sunday's action, the Skyhawks wrapped up Saturday's halted game before suffering their first loss of the weekend to UCCS, 8-7. FLC finished the four game weekend with a 10-2 five inning win over the Orediggers Sunday night.
"Taking three of four games this weekend feels good; it was a team effort," said head coach
Kira Zeiter. "We faced a lot of adversity with the weather this weekend and we did not let it bother us. I'm proud of the team and how they played solid softball no matter what."
After a three and a half hour delay Sunday morning, the Skyhawks completed Saturday's halted game to earn a 4-3 win. Saturday's game was called in the bottom of the seventh with the Skyhawks leading 4-3 with two outs and runners on second and third. Pitcher
Kiley Raica finished the inning and game striking out UCCS to seal the win.
The Skyhawks started the game trailing 2-0 heading into the fourth inning.
Myndee Thompson hit a home run to cut the Mountain Lions lead down to one run, 2-1.
Mandy Owens started the fifth inning as the leadoff batter and went yard to tie the game, 2-2. Thompson added her second home run of the game with a two run shot to centerfield for the game-winning run.
Missy Fundora and Thompson each posted two hits. Thompson went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Raica pitched the entire game, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and fanning nine batters.
Sunday's first complete game against UCCS was originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m. but was pushed back to 1:30 p.m. because of weather delays. The Skyhawks plated five of their seven runs in the third inning off of four hits and two Mountain Lion errors. FLC held a 7-5 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning but UCCS scored three runs for the eventual win, 8-7.
Owens led the Skyhawks with two hits. Fundora,
Adriana Rosthenhausler, Thompson (home run), Tristan Gilbert,
Denae Fisher, Raica and
Kaitlyn Bending each added one hit. Fundora and Thompson each drove in two runs while Thompson crossed home plate twice.
Raica pitched 4.1 innings and allowed four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Victoria Johnson worked 1.2 innings in the circle and surrendered two runs on four hits and fanned three batters.
In the final game of the weekend, the Skyhawks outhit Colorado School of Mines 12-5. Thompson hit her fourth home run of the weekend to plate two runs in the bottom of the first inning (Fundora scored).
The Orediggers tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the second but FLC quickly regained the lead in the third inning when
Lauren Caldwell hit a sacrifice fly to score Thompson. In the fourth inning, Gilbert batted in Fundora to give the Skyhawks a 4-2 lead.
Fort Lewis hit a scoring spree in the bottom of the fifth inning, plating six runs to run-rule CSM. Caldwell led off the inning with a double down the left field line. She advanced to third off of Raica's single to left field. Bending loaded the bases after drawing a walk before Fundora drew a walk to bring home Caldwell. After a pitching change by the Oreidggers and bases loaded with one out, Rosthenhausler reached base on a fielder's choice while Bending and Raica each scored on an error. Thompson followed with a single up the middle to score Fundora.
Mandy Owens drew the third walk of the inning that scored Rosthenhausler. Caldwell hit a single that brought home the game-winning run by Gilbert.
Thompson finished the game going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and three runs scored. Caldwell went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored while Fundora went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and a run batted in.
Olivia Goldberg pitched all five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits.
Fort Lewis (16-27, 14-18 RMAC) will play their final game of the regular season this weekend at home against Colorado State University-Pueblo April 25-26 at Aspen Field.
