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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Softball huddle 4.25
Bob Bonnar, FLC Athletics
4
Black Hills State BHSB 3-29
7
Winner Fort Lewis College FLCSB 15-20
Black Hills State BHSB
3-29
4
Final
7
Fort Lewis College FLCSB
15-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Black Hills State BHSB 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 7 4
Fort Lewis College FLCSB 0 1 0 3 3 0 X 7 7 0

W: Lorenson, Mandy (1-7) L: Breanne Henricksen (0-8)

2
Black Hills State BHSB 3-30
8
Winner Fort Lewis College FLCSB 16-20
Black Hills State BHSB
3-30
2
Final
8
Fort Lewis College FLCSB
16-20
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Black Hills State BHSB 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 10 2
Fort Lewis College FLCSB 3 2 0 2 0 1 X 8 12 0

W: Keahbone, Kendra (7-2) L: Halie Litwin (0-4)

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

Skyhawks complete crucial four-game sweep of Black Hills State to cap Senior Weekend

DURANGO, Colorado — The Fort Lewis College softball team couldn't have scripted a better Senior Day.

Desperately needing two more wins for RMAC playoff purposes, the Skyhawks were able to honor their 10 graduating seniors, many playing key, front-and-center roles Sunday, in 7-4 and 8-2 victories over Black Hills State University.

The two wins completed the second straight four-game sweep of an opponent for Fort Lewis (16-20 overall, 16-16 RMAC) — the team swept New Mexico Highlands two weekends ago in Durango — and vaulted FLC into the sixth and final RMAC playoff spot ahead of UCCS with two series remaining in the regular season.

"We played a lot better softball than we did yesterday and I was really proud of the girls being able to come out, score runs, and play well top to bottom to get us two big wins," said FLC head softball coach, Ashley Reeves. "I was really proud of our seniors and it was great to see a lot of them play well today. All 10 have been big contributors for us, whether as starters or role players who know what their job is. We'll be sad to see them go."
 
Game One

In Game One, facing an early 3-0 deficit, the Skyhawks went to the bullpen early and called upon senior right-hander Mandy Lorenson, making just her fourth appearance in the month of April as injuries and control problems had hampered much of her spring.

Lorenson, who has operated as FLC's ace during most of her time in Durango, responded with five strong innings of relief as she held BHSU to one run on just two hits while striking out seven to pick up her first victory of 2021.

"Bri just didn't have it early in Game One, so we decided, 'Why not go to Mandy?' This was her time to shine," Reeves said. "She did exactly what we know she's capable of doing and we're very proud of her. Coach Wiman, myself and the team all hope that gets her going because we're going to need. For us to get better and for us to win games, we need Mandy."

The FLC offense fought back with a run in the first, a RBI groundout from sophomore shortstop Courtney Huff, and pulled even with the Yellow Jackets with a three-run fourth inning; capped by a wild pitch strikeout and throwing error by the BHSU catcher as she tried to record the out at first, allowing two FLC runners to score on the play.

Fort Lewis would take the lead for good in the fifth when senior Kassidy Trumbo reached on a RBI groundout and BHSU throwing error that allowed pinch-runner Cara Daugherty to score from second.

The Skyhawks pounced on the error, plating two more unearned runs via a double by Huff. Huff's hot shot down the left-field line capped a breakout performance for the shortstop as she finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and a career-high RBI hitting out of the No. 7 spot.

"Courtney took a really good round of batting practice this morning, she was hitting the ball out front. And that's what I told her. I didn't care if she guessed wrong on a pitch, but I wanted her making contact out front," Reeves said. "It takes the pressure off our 1-4 hitters when we get that kind of production from the bottom of the lineup."
 
Game Two

The Skyhawks completed the four-game sweep of Black Hills State in convincing fashion, rolling to an 8-2 victory in Sunday's nightcap.

Fort Lewis tallied five early runs, with three in the first and two runs in the second, to open a 5-0 lead and jump in the driver seat.

The Hefley twins led the charge in the final game of their senior weekend. Kylie Hefley was a spotless 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases out of the No. 2 spot in the order, while cleanup hitter McKenna Hefley also produced three hits (3-for-4) with two runs scored and three driven in.

Freshman infielder Jadyn Gilley also joined the party, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI, while junior outfielder Azalea Moore added a 2-for-3 performance with a run scored and stolen base to help pace the FLC offense.

"All of our players were hitting the ball, defense was solid and our starting pitching was there in Game Two. All three aspects of the game we were able to put together," said Reeves of the complete-game performance. "The Hefley twins were tremendous and we got some great, timely hits from Azzy (Moore) and Jadyn. They did a great job squaring the ball up and hitting the ball where it was pitched."

The eight runs was plenty of run support for senior right-hander Kendra Keahbone as she went all seven innings, improving to 7-2 on the season with a team-best 2.61 earned run average.

Keahbone limited BHSU to a pair of runs on 10 scattered hits while striking out three in what was just the latest great performance in a string a quality starts during the month of April.

"To be quite honest, I think her confidence is there this year where it wasn't there last year," Reeves said of Keahbone's career season. "She's confident in herself, confident in her pitches and her teammates. Last year she was coming back from an injury and lacked a little bit of that. Kendra playing with confidence is key for her winning games."

Fort Lewis will now turn its attention toward the final road trip of the 2021 season; a four-game set against Regis University scheduled for next Friday and Saturday in Denver.

With the Skyhawks locked in a three-horse race with CSU Pueblo and UCCS for the sixth and final RMAC Tournament playoff spot, the road trip to face the Rangers presents a huge opportunity for FLC to try and create some breathing room.

"I just told the girls I'm really proud of them for winning four games, but this next series is going to be huge for us," Reeves said. "We need to go out and win game. We need to right, we need to compete and hopefully we play up to the potential we know our team has."
 
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