Fort Lewis welcomes No. 11 Colorado Christian for a four-game set

2/23/2024 10:00:00 AM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

DURANGO, Colo. – Fort Lewis softball (2-11, 0-4 RMAC) is finally making its return to Durango and Aspen Field as the Skyhawks host conference-leading and No. 11-ranked Colorado Christian (12-1, 4-0 RMAC) for a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series up on the rim.

Game Information
Saturday, Feb. 24 | 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
vs. No. 11 Colorado Christian
Durango, Colo. | Aspen Field
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets

Sunday, Feb. 25 | 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
vs. No. 11 Colorado Christian
Durango, Colo. | Aspen Field
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets

Last Time Out
Fort Lewis dropped its conference-opening series to Colorado Mesa (6-4, 4-0 RMAC) last weekend at Bloomfield High School down in Bloomfield, N.M. The gritty Mavericks offense edged the Skyhawks 28-25 in total hits while also holding the blue and gold to just eight runs across the weekend.

Fort Lewis Leaders
Senior Kayla Stone is currently tied with MSU Denver's Genevieve Bower for the league lead in batting average at an even .500. Stone has racked up 17 hits in 34 at-bats including a team-high five doubles, one triple, one home run, and a team-leading 12 runs batted in. In addition to Stone, Fort Lewis boasts five players with a .300 or better average thus far: Cara Daugherty (.344), Ashley Burriel (.343), Catheryn Rodman (.343), Alex Tenorio (.316), and Hannah Rutherford (.300). Amiee Shanks has toed the rubber 10 times for FLC this season, seven of which have been complete-game starts. Shanks owns a 4.67 earned run average across her 51.0 innings of work and has struck out 25 thus far.

Scouting the Cougars
Top-ranked Colorado Christian stands at 12-1 on the season with its only blemish coming at the hands of St. Mary's (8-10, 3-3 LSC). Even then, it took a three-run top of the seventh inning for the Rattlers to pull off the upset. Last weekend, the Cougars dominated Adams State on the road to bring its win streak to six games including three consecutive run-rule victories over the Grizzlies.

Kenzie Middleton and Leah Garcia lead the offense with identical .455 averages but Kenzie Middleton edges Garcia 20-15 in total hits with 11 more at-bats. Kenzie Middleton is tied with Kayla Middleton for the team lead with 17 RBIs while Kayla leads the roster with four home runs. In the circle, Emma Duncan and Kaila Eastburn have tallied 37.2 and 34.0 innings of the team's 85.0 total thus far. The pair provides a one-two punch that leads the RMAC in ERA at 1.19 for Duncan and 1.32 for Eastburn. Additionally, opposing hitters are batting .172 against the Cougars pitching staff.

First Road Test Ahead
Next week the Grizzlies at Adams State (2-11, 0-4 RMAC) lie in wait as Fort Lewis' first conference road test of the season. The Skyhawks and Grizzlies will play a pair of doubleheaders to complete the four-game series on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 2-3, on the ASU Softball Field. Game times are currently scheduled for noon on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

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