Angelique Elemen has already helped define Fort Lewis’ season with clutch hitting, solid defense and moon shot home runs. On Saturday, she cemented her mark even more when she became the school’s all-time leader in hits when she got the 225th of her career. She surpassed Durango High School head coach Missy Fundora with the most hits in program history.
Elemen, a senior, has now set five program records this season and showed no signs of stopping after the Skyhawks split a weekend pod series against Colorado State University-Pueblo and Chadron State University in Pueblo. Her all-time leading hit was a single to left-center field in the third inning against Chadron State.
The Skyhawks (16-33, 11-25 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) beat the ThunderWolves both times over the Friday and Saturday series, but lost to Chadron State (13-32, 10-25) both times, as well.
In Game 1 on Saturday against the Eagles, McKenna Hefley hit a triple to left field to score Taylor Hollestelle and it was the lone run of the game for FLC. CSU would answer with one in the top of the second to tie it at one.
It remained tied until the top of the seventh, when the Eagles put up three runs, two of which came on errors to take the lead for good.
In Game 2 against CSU-Pueblo (11-26, 10-23 RMAC), the ThunderWolves got off to a quick 2-0 lead, when Hailey Hicks doubled to right field to score one, and then Morgan Hatfield singled to score another run to make it 2-0, all of which came with two outs.
FLC got on the board in the top of the third when Elemen popped out to right field. But thanks to heads-up base running, Hollestelle tagged up from third to score. In the fourth, Hannah Gondini grounded into a fielder’s choice and Mackenzie Parks scored from third base to tie the game at two.
Then, in the top of the seventh, McKenna Hefley reached on an error by the shortstop and center fielder Allison Young scored the go-ahead run. Kassidy Trumbo shut the pen to end it and head home happy.
This followed Friday’s results, which saw the Skyhawks take Game 1 against the ThunderWolves 5-4, as Hefley had three RBIs and a home run, and lost the second late to Chadron State 8-5.
With Elemen’s records already secured, Fort Lewis will be looking to secure a berth in the RMAC Tournament, but will need help, as the Skyhawks sit in 10th and only the top eight qualify. The Skyhawks sit one game back of the eighth-place spot and will host Dixie State next Friday and Saturday at Aspen Field for the final weekend of the regular season.
bploen@durangoherald.com
