The Fort Lewis College softball team opened its season with a pair of wins in Friday’s doubleheader at the U.S. Bank Eastern New Mexico University Softball Classic Kickoff, as the Skyhawks got off to their first 2-0 start since the 1989 season.
The Skyhawks (2-0) defeated Oklahoma Baptist 9-0 in five innings and beat ENMU a few hours later, 3-1.
In the first game against the Bison (0-1), the Skyhawks hit two home runs. One was a two-run shot from sophomore catcher McKenna Hefley in the second inning to make it 3-0, and fellow sophomore Taylor Beaman had a two-run shot in the fourth to make it 6-0. FLC scored the remainder of its runs in the fourth.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Morris (1-0) gave up two hits in four scoreless innings, while Kelly Decker closed out the game in the fifth.
In the second game against the Greyhounds, junior pitcher Mandy Lorenson went the distance in a seven-inning performance, as she struck out eight and gave up two hits in the 3-1 win.
Hefley drove in the first run of the game in the top of the first with a single to make it 1-0. The Greyhounds responded with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-1 in the third. The Skyhawks got the game-winning runs in the top of the fourth inning, when freshman Mackenzie Parks stepped up in a big way and delivered the game-winning RBI to score Hefley with a hard hit ball into left center field. Three batters later, Taylor Hollestelle received an RBI after she walked with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Greyhounds had a chance to tie the game with two on and two out, but the game was ended on a fielder’s choice.
The Skyhawks will rematch ENMU to close out the tournament at 3 p.m. Saturday.
bploen@durangoherald.com
