Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Ariz. – February 17, 2017 – The Fort Lewis College softball team lost two close decisions Friday in the first day of the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz.  FLC fell in the first game to Academy of Art, 8-5, followed by an 18-16 setback to Dixie State University.
 
Against the Urban Knights, FLC trailed 7-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning before Adriana Rosthenhausler scored on a wild pitch to give FLC their first run of the game.
 
Two innings later and trailing 8-1, FLC plated four runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 8-5.  Cassie Sloan entered the inning as a pinch runner.  She scored the first run of the inning after stealing second pass, advancing to third on a throwing error and then scoring on a wild pitch.  Allison Young scored the Skyhawks third straight run from a wild pitch.  Lauren Caldwell brought home the final two runs on a double to left center that scored Angelique Elemen and Gianna Melaragno.
 
Melaragno was the lone Skyhawk with a multi-hit game as she finished with two hits and one run scored.
 
FLC posted six hits on 27 at-bats.
 
Olivia Goldberg started in the circle for FLC, allowing one earned run on four hits.  Olivia Bratt worked 4.1 innings and surrendered two earned runs on seven hits.
 
In FLC's second game of the day against DSU, the Skyhawks took their first lead of the game thanks to eight runs in the fourth inning.  The Skyhawks eight runs gave them a 9-4 lead after four innings.
 
The Trailblazers answered back with nine runs in the fifth inning to regain their second lead of the game, 13-9.  The Skyhawks added two more scores in the sixth but DSU extended their lead to 18-11 after they added five runs in the sixth inning.
 
FLC mounted their comeback in the final inning after adding five runs, but fell short, 18-16.
 
Mandy Owens and Elemen each tallied three hits against DSU.  Elemen led the offense with seven runs batted in and two runs scored.  She recorded two home runs, including a grand slam, on five at-bats.
 
The Skyhawks will face Lincoln Memorial University on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., and Lubbock Christian University at 2 p.m.