The Fort Lewis College women’s softball team had a beautiful day for their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference home opener Saturday, but the visitors brought a dark cloud of offense that ruined the Skyhawks’ day.
Colorado Mesa (3-4, 2-0 RMAC) used a nine-run fifth inning to blowout FLC in the first game 12-0. The Mavericks came alive in late innings again in the second game to win 8-4. The games were played at Aztec Sports Complex in Aztec because snow still covers FLC’s home of Aspen Field.
Adriana Rosthenhausler was 2-for-2 in the first game, and freshman catcher Angelique Elemen was 1-for-1 with two walks in the loss. Elemen was also 2-for-4 in the second game with two runs batted in while Gianna Melargno went 2-for-2 with two walks. Robyn Young had the only FLC home run on the day with a two-run blast in the fifth inning of the second game.
Fort Lewis (3-9, 0-2 RMAC) hung in there in the first game and trailed 3-0 through four innings. That’s when the Mavericks’ hit parade began.
Victoria Johnson pitched the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits, but couldn’t get out of the fifth. After some defensive meltdowns and solid hits by Colorado Mesa, Kaila Jacobi’s three-run home run capped off a decisive fifth inning.
In game two, the Skyhawks trailed 4-0 until Young’s home run cut the deficit in half. After two runs crossed in the bottom half for Mesa, Elemen’s two-run single in the sixth got FLC back to within two. The Mavericks added two more in the sixth and two in the seventh to put away the Skyhawks.
Olivia Goldberg took the loss in game two giving up 14 hits and eight runs in six innings pitched.
Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa will meet again at 11 a.m. Sunday for another double header.
jfries@durangoherald.com
