After a rough offensive day Saturday, the Fort Lewis College softball team woke up the bats Sunday, splitting two games after being swept Saturday at the Grand Canyon University Invitational.

FLC fell 10-9 in eight innings in a wild Sunday rematch with Grand Canyon before topping Notre Dame de Namur 3-1. The Skyhawks whiffed on both of their Saturday games in Phoenix, first falling to host Grand Canyon 7-0 before losing to Notre Dame de Namur 11-1.

In the late game against the Argonauts on Sunday, FLC’s Alexis Villegas allowed a first-inning run and nothing more to move her record in the circle to 1-1 this season.

“She did a really nice job keeping them off balance and hitting the corners,” FLC head coach Kira Zeiter said.

Natalie Janes provided the offense with a two-run homer, while Chelsea Rodriguez was 2-for-4 and scored an insurance run on Kaylynn Harmon’s fifth-inning single.

In the opener Sunday, Fort Lewis tied the see-saw affair with GCU at 7 when Cierra Walters singled home Destinee DeHerrera. The Skyhawks nearly pulled out the victory when Harmon singled later in the inning, but Walters was cut down at the plate.

Grand Canyon responded with three runs off FLC starter Kassie Haubert in the top of the eighth, but FLC (2-7) responded with two more runs in the bottom of the frame and loaded the bases before the Antelopes shut the door.

“It was a heartbreaker. You have no idea,” Zeiter said.

The Skyhawks pounded out 14 hits against GCU, with Walters going 4-for-5 and Rodriguez going 3-for-4. Kelsey Barak was 2-for-3 with a home run for GCU.

“The way we played all day (Sunday), it was a whole different feel than (Saturday),” Zeiter said.

Poor hitting was the biggest culprit in the losses Saturday, Zeiter said. The Skyhawks had just 11 hits on 46 at-bats.

“All day (Saturday) we really needed to hit more consistently throughout the lineup,” Zeiter said. “We would get a random hit here or there.”

The hitting wasn’t universally inconsistent, though.

Kamali’i Peneku was 3-for-3 Saturday. Zeiter said she needs players such as Peneku to hit well and spark the team.

“When one person’s on, it can filter through the team,” Zeiter said.

In first game, the Antelopes scored six runs on five hits in the second inning. The runs were charged to starting pitcher Stephanie Janes (0-2).

Reliever Alexis Villegas allowed two more runs – neither were earned – and seven hits to finish the game.

Grand Canyon pitcher Kiley Raica pitched a shutout with six hits and one walk, her second shutout of the season. FLC’s Myndee Thompson had two of those hits, finishing 2-for-3.

The second game followed a similar pattern: Notre Dame scored six runs in the first inning before adding five more in the third.

Freshman Olivia Bergman opened the game for FLC, recording just one out against six batters. She allowed five runs on three hits and one walk before Janes relieved her.

Janes allowed six runs, six hits, three walks and hit one batter before Vallegos took over for the final two innings, allowing one hit and one walk.

FLC’s lone run on the day came from Saturday’s ace hitter, Peneku, whose center-field single in the fourth allowed pinch runner Kaitlyn Bending to cross the plate. The Skyhawks tallied five hits against the Argonauts.

“Sometimes the ball just doesn’t roll your way, if you know what I mean,” Zeiter said.

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