The end of the 2014 season has fueled a hot start in 2015, and the Skyhawks are oozing with confidence.
After finishing runner-up in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament a season ago, the Fort Lewis College softball team has carried that momentum for 10 months, leading to a strong start to this year’s conference campaign.
Entering a four-game home pod this weekend, the Skyhawks stood fourth in the standings with a 9-3 start in RMAC play. After sneaking into the conference tournament as the last seed a season ago, FLC is looking to build toward another strong postseason run this year.
“We carried a lot of momentum from last year. Obviously, we have some new girls, so it’s not the normal kind of momentum we might have had, but the new girls are stepping up big-time,” FLC senior second baseman Myndee Thompson said.
Gone are the power bats of Chelsea Rodriguez and Destinee DeHerrera, who combined for 20 home runs last season; enter the big bats of Jeovanna Rios and Tristen Gilbert, who already have combined for 10 homers, with Rios hitting six.
Rios also entered the weekend batting .446 this season, and she was named the RMAC Player of the Week after belting three homers last weekend.
“Ever since that last game in the RMAC championship, we’ve all been preparing to come back,” said Rios, who had a strong conference tournament last season, providing clutch at-bats. “We have a different atmosphere this year. I know, no matter what, every time I go up to bat, whoever is batting in front of me or behind me will get the job done. We’re well-rounded.”
FLC has six starters batting for an average of .370 or better. The Skyhawks also have stolen 46 bases on 55 attempts, only six shy of matching last year’s entire total.
Where FLC returned the most experience was in the pitching circle, with both junior starters – Victoria Johnson and Kiley Raica – returning after leading the team in innings a year ago. Raica (5-4) was named the RMAC Pitcher of the Week last week, and Johnson (6-6) has been strong coming off her impressive RMAC tournament performance a year ago.
“Our pitching staff is strong. We have to keep doing it when it counts,” Johnson said.
FLC’s defense also is much improved. Thompson displays outstanding range at second base, the outfield is loaded with experience, and new players have filled in nicely at third and first base as well as catcher.
Fielding errors per game are down 7 percent this season, even with new players filling holes.
“Our defense always has our back,” Raica said. “That’s what makes us pitchers successful is when they perform like they have.”
The long wait from the end of last season served to build stronger bonds between the team. This year, the Skyhawks said they are playing better together as a unit.
“We all get along, love hanging out with each other, and that makes it so much more fun to play together,” Johnson said. “It makes us fell better when we get those wins or somebody makes a big play or gets a homer when we need it. It’s that much more exciting because you care so much about the person in front of you.”
UC-Colorado Springs 5, FLC 3
One big inning for the Mountain Lions cost the Skyhawks in the first game of a three-team pod Saturday at Aspen Field.
Leading 3-0 going to the fifth inning, FLC couldn’t slam the door on UC-Colorado Springs.
An Emily Jennings double scored Whitney Weber, and cleanup hitter Dani Fonseca bashed a three-run homer on Johnson’s final pitch of the game to give the Mountain Lions a 4-3 advantage.
UC-Colorado Springs added an insurance run when Tressa Radach doubled in Lexi Belligan, and pitcher Stephanie Chitkowski (4-4) slammed the door on FLC the rest of the way to secure the win.
“That loss hurt,” Johnson said after the game.
Johnson lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, all earned. She walked three and struck out one. She worked around some trouble early as UC-Colorado Springs left the bases loaded in the first.
Olivia Goldberg pitched two innings of relief and gave up five hits and one unearned run. Raica recorded the final two outs in the top of the seventh to keep the score 5-3 as the Mountain Lions were threatening.
Rios had FLC’s last chance at the plate but flew out to deep right field with runners on first and second and two outs.
All three of FLC’s runs came in the bottom of the first inning.
Rios grounded out to shortstop, but Fundora scored on the play. A double by Gilbert scored Thompson, and Gilbert went on to score on a big double by Mandy Owens.
The loss was just the second at home this season for FLC as the Skyhawks entered the weekend 7-2 at Aspen Field.
Regis 6, Fort Lewis 5
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Skyhawks couldn’t push enough runs across.
FLC dropped its third home game of the season, to Regis on Saturday at Aspen Field.
The Skyhawks trailed 6-4 going into the bottom of the seventh inning after the Rangers scored two in the top of the inning. They loaded the bases with two outs and scored on a Nikki Klepfer walk.
Starting pitcher Kiley Raica then lined out to the pitcher to end the inning and the game. She took the loss after giving up six earned runs on 13 hits and striking out three.
Raica drove in one of FLC’s runs as well.
Mandy Owens led FLC with three hits, including a double, and scored once.
Rios walked twice and scored twice.
Carlie Sexton hit a home run for Regis and had three RBIs.
All three teams will be in action again Sunday. Play will begin at 10 a.m., with Regis taking on Fort Lewis.
Durango Herald sports writer Kyle Grabowski contributed to this report.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
