Fort Lewis College softball needed a big weekend to keep its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament hopes alive.
The Skyhawks are off to a pretty good start.
FLC swept last-place Black Hills State, winning 13-2 in a mercy-rule shortened game before using a seven-run seventh inning to win the second game 14-4 on Saturday in Spearfish, S.D.
“You know, it was pretty impressive,” FLC head coach Kira Zeiter said of the offense. “We were doing a good job of swinging at strikes and taking advantage of when we could get good pitches.”
The Skyhawks (15-20, 13-17 RMAC) got out early in Game 1, scoring six times in the first inning and tallying in every inning except the fourth. Kaylynn Harmon went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, and Chelsea Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. Myndee Thompson homered and drove in three runs with two runs scored, and Missy Fundora drove in a pair of runs.
Kassie Haubert (5-10) threw five innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking three to pick up the win in the circle for FLC. In the process, she became FLC’s all-time leader in career pitching victories, passing Cassidy Maine with her 34th win.
Rebecca Green homered for the Yellow Jackets (4-26, 3-19 RMAC).
It took a little longer to get the bats going in Game 2, but the Skyhawks grabbed a 7-1 lead after six thanks to a four-run sixth inning. FLC tallied seven more times in the seventh to put the game away.
Harmon was 4-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, while Kaitlyn Bending had three hits and drove in three runs, scoring three times. Rodriguez scored twice, doubled and drove in a run, and Thompson was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
The nightcap capped a 7-for-8, seven-RBI day for Harmon.
“She was a tough out (Saturday). ... That’s a good day’s work right there,” Zeiter said.
Victoria Johnson (8-7) threw all seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking a pair to pick up the win for the Skyhawks.
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