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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Emily Morris 3.7
Bob Bonnar, FLC Athletics
FLC junior Emily Morris finished 7-of-12 during the Skyhawks' series split against Colorado Christian.
10
Winner Colorado Christian CCSB 20-6
0
Fort Lewis College FLCSB 10-11
Winner
Colorado Christian CCSB
20-6
10
Final
0
Fort Lewis College FLCSB
10-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Colorado Christian CCSB 0 0 4 1 0 5 10 14 1
Fort Lewis College FLCSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2

W: Jennifer Romero (10-3) L: Lorenson, Mandy (3-4)

3
Colorado Christian CCSB 20-7
4
Winner Fort Lewis College FLCSB 11-11
Colorado Christian CCSB
20-7
3
Final
4
Fort Lewis College FLCSB
11-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Colorado Christian CCSB 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 8 2
Fort Lewis College FLCSB 0 0 0 0 3 1 X 4 8 1

W: Leavell, Brianna (5-3) L: Jennifer Romero (10-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Skyhawks rally in Game Four to earn series split against RMAC leaders Colorado Christian

DURANGO, Colorado — The Fort Lewis College softball team closed out its first home weekend series in fine fashion on Saturday, brushing off a disappointing 10-0 loss in Game Three to rally from behind for a 4-3 victory over Colorado Christian University in the series finale.

With the victory, the Skyhawks (11-11 overall, 8-4 RMAC) earned a four-game series split against a powerful Cougars team (20-7 overall, 10-2 RMAC), who came to Durango atop the RMAC standings and as one of country's elite NCAA Division II offenses.

CCU entered the weekend leading Division II in runs scored and leads the RMAC in home runs, runs batted in and batting average.

"I'm so excited, I wish I had a better word for it, but I'm so proud of the girls and the way they fought this weekend," said Fort Lewis head coach, Ashley Reeves. "They could have easily caved after losing Game Two and Game Three the way that we did, but they didn't. They came back strong, hit ground balls and line drives like I asked them to, and were able to score some runs and break it open (in Game Four)."

Fort Lewis faced a 3-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before two singles from junior shortstop Julia Roberts and left fielder Emily Morris, sandwiched around a CCU error, loaded the bases with no outs to spark the comeback.

Two batters later, catcher McKenna Hefley singled to left to bring in Roberts for the Skyhawks' first run. Then, with two outs and the bases juiced, junior outfielder Hannah Gondini delivered the equalizer with a two-run single to left field that plated Pilar Gutierrez and Morris.

"She doesn't let the pressure get to her and she has done this for us 2-3 times where she has come into the game in a big moment and gotten us a hit," Reeves said of Gondini. "She's done really well in that role and sometimes that's a hard spot to be in. She did a great job making sure she got the ball in play and scoring those runs."

Fort Lewis would take the lead in its next trip to the plate in the sixth when Morris, a converter pitcher turned left outfielder, poked a two-out RBI single through the left-side to score Gutierrez, who had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

The go-ahead RBI single capped a 4-for-4 performance for Morris in Game Four from the leadoff spot and polished off a series that saw the Highlands Ranch native finish 7-for-12 at the plate.

"After last week, we were down a couple players and Emily stepped up, took an opportunity and has ran with it," said Reeves about the decision to try Morris out as a position player. "It was unfortunate for us (to be down some players), but at the same time we've had kids step up and that's what you need. She helped us win this game and I'm super proud of her."

In the pitcher's circle, freshman Brianna Leavell earned her team-leading fifth win of the season, limiting the Cougars to three runs on eight hits and striking out five versus one walk.

CCU scored two of its runs in the top of the second, and then one in the third to take the 3-0 lead, but had the door slammed shut by Leavell over the final four innings.

"I'm proud of Bri for not letting some offensive struggles affect her in the pitcher's circle. She was able to stay focused on what she needed to do after that first inning," Reeves said. "She settled down and hit her spots. We know with a team like (CCU), they're going to have big swings and they put up a lot of runs. But she was able to control the things we can control."

The Game Four win was a huge bounce-back for the Skyhawks after falling 10-0 in Game Three, receiving two singles in the ballgame from McKenna Hefley and freshman Sloan Shotton.

Fort Lewis, currently sitting fourth in the RMAC standings, will now prepare for a four-game set against New Mexico Highlands University (2-19 overall, 1-8 RMAC) next Saturday and Sunday as the Skyhawks continue a 12-game home stand.

Game times are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, with Sunday's doubleheader scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
 
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