Runs were hard to come by in the first game, so the Skyhawks started scoring as quick as they could in the second.
After falling 12-2 in six innings in the first of a four-game series against the Metro State Roadrunners, the Fort Lewis College softball team scored seven runs on eight hits in the bottom of the first inning in Game 2. That inning of work at the plate would be enough as the Skyhawks staved off the Roadrunners for a 7-6 win and a crucial split on their home Aspen Field on Friday.
“It felt amazing to come back and beat them after the first game,” said FLC senior second baseman Myndee Thompson, who had FLC’s only offense in Game 1 with two solo home runs.
FLC (13-20, 11-11 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) committed four errors in the first game, which was close at 2-1 in favor of Metro State (24-10, 15-5 RMAC) until the Roadrunners scored six runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth.
Thompson’s homers, her first two of the season, came in the fourth and sixth innings.
Victoria Johnson (7-10) took the loss in the circle for FLC, but she came on to earn a big two-inning save in Game 2. In her start, Johnson gave up 10 runs with only four earned. She allowed nine hits, walked three and struck out one.
Metro State’s scoring was highlighted by a two-run homer by Annika Anderson in the sixth inning. A Kaylnn Harmon triple also scored one run, and Harmon also scored on a Sarena Espinoza double.
FLC regrouped for Game 2, starting quick and batting around the order with only one out in the bottom of the first.
“Our team has been working so hard that it feels good to see it pay off with an inning like that,” FLC head coach Kira Zeiter said. “To come out on fire and get seven runs off the bat, it allowed us to relax and rely on pitching and defense to get us through the rest of the game.”
A double by Thompson scored Missy Fundora, and Tristen Gilbert followed with a single to score Thompson. FLC then went station-to-station with the bases loaded. Nikki Klepfer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Jeovanna Rios, catcher Denae Fisher singled home Gilbert, Kaitlyn Bending singled in Mandy Owens, Fundora hit a single to score Klepfer and Adriana Rosthenhausler rounded it all out with a single to left field that scored Fisher.
After FLC’s eight-hit, seven-run onslaught, Metro State pulled starting pitcher Nicole Larsen in favor of Kenzie Mattey, who bottled up the FLC offense through 5 2/3 innings to finish the game.
Thompson finished the day 3-for-7 at the plate with two homers, a double, three runs batted in and three runs scored.
“I was just trying to hit the ball. Don’t even care where it goes, just hit the ball,” she said.
Metro State wouldn’t go quietly in Game 2, making it interesting late. The Roadrunners scored one run in the second and third innings before a three-run fifth. The fifth inning was extended when a bang-bang call on a possible double play went in favor of Metro State. Instead of recording the third out, a run was able to cross the plate, starting a three-run inning thanks to consecutive RBI doubles by Espinoza and Carissa Terry.
FLC starting pitcher Olivia Goldberg was able to escape the inning, but she was finished after allowing a leadoff walk in the sixth. Johnson came on in relief and worked out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout after giving up only one run to preserve FLC’s 7-6 lead. Johnson also benefitted from a diving play up the middle my Thompson to record a crucial out.
Johnson slammed the door on the Roadrunners in the seventh by getting two pop-fly outs with two runners on base.
“I came in and felt like I owed it to Olivia and the rest of the team to do my job, and I wasn’t going to let them beat me,” Johnson said of her relief appearance. “I wanted to challenge them, and I beat them, I guess.”
Goldberg (1-1) gave up six runs – five earned – on seven hits in five-plus innings of work.
“I just knew they were a great team. I wanted to keep them off their balance and get my pitches working well with some good spin,” Goldberg said. “They’re definitely a big rival for us, so it was nice to keep up with them and get that win.”
Metro State head coach Annie Van Wetzinga said she was unhappy with her team’s offensive effort Friday, but she did credit the FLC pitchers for capitalizing on her team’s mistakes.
“They did a good job of finding what we were doing. They continued to hit the spots we weren’t making adjustments to, and I give it to them for attacking our weaknesses.
“It’s just a disappointing loss. There’s no reason you should give up a seven-run inning. It’s tough to come back from, whether you’re playing the best team in the country or a 12-and-under team.”
The two teams will look to settle the series with another doubleheader Saturday. The Skyhawks hope to carry momentum into those two games against the team that beat them in the RMAC Tournament championship game a season ago.
“We will not go down (Saturday),” Johnson said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
