The Fort Lewis College softball team earned a series win against New Mexico Highlands University with a pair of wins Sunday to take three of four games from the Cowgirls. It was the Skyhawks’ first series victory of their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule.
The Skyhawks (13-29, 7-21 RMAC) rolled to an 8-1 win, then battled back and forth with Highlands (8-28, 4-23 RMAC) for an 18-17 walk-off victory at the Aztec Tiger Sports Complex in Aztec.
Down 17-16 in the bottom of the seventh of the 18-17 scorefest, Denae Fisher doubled to left-center field to score Julia Roberts, then Fisher came in to score the winning run when Tristen Gilbert hit a two-out single to left field.
FLC piled up 25 hits in the game and took advantage of five Highlands errors to help get the win.
Kellsi Peterson led FLC at the plate. She went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in and three runs scored. Kaitlyn Barlow also drove in four runs and was 2-for-5 with a double. Taylor Beaman went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, Lauren Caldwell was 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, Fisher was 2-for-6 with a home run to go with her double to finish with two RBIs, Gilbert finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, McKenna Hefley went 4-for-6 with a triple, Roberts ended the game 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Allison Young went 2-for-6.
Kassidy Trumbo started for FLC and pitched four innings. She allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out three batters. Seven of the eight runs against her were earned.
Kelly Decker pitched three innings in relief and allowed six hits, walked six batters and only three of the nine runs scored against her were earned.
FLC committed three errors in the game.
Desiree Bogarin started the game for NMHU. She pitched six innings, gave up 22 hits, no walks and struck out two batters. Thirteen of the 16 runs against her were earned.
Brianna Velasquez came in to pitch the seventh inning with a 17-16 lead and allowed two earned runs on three hits.
In the 8-1 win in Game 3 of the series, Mandy Larson (7-6) pitched a gem for the Skyhawks. She went all seven innings, gave up six hits, walked three and struck out 11 to help overcome four errors in the field. The one run Highlands scored was unearned.
At the plate, FLC knocked 11 hits and only struck out once.
Madelynne Blood-Smyth led the way at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, including a two-run home run in the fourth. She finished the game with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Barlow went 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs, and Hafley was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Velasquez (1-8) took the loss for NMHU after pitching 5 2/3 innings. She allowed nine hits and four walks, and the seven runs she allowed were earned. Isabella Scarale came on in relief and pitched 1/3 of an inning. She allowed one earned run on two hits.
FLC will play a four-game series at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs on Saturday and Sunday.
The women’s lacrosse team of Fort Lewis College pushed Colorado Mesa University from start to finish but came up short in a 13-11 loss to the Mavericks on Sunday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field in Durango.
The Skyhawks (4-6, 4-3 RMAC) trailed 11-6 with 17 minutes remaining in the game when they mounted a comeback to make it an 11-10 game a little less than 12 minutes to go, but the Mavericks (8-2, 5-2 RMAC) pulled away with goals with 7:43 and 6:41 remaining to secure the win.
Eight Skyhawks scored in the game. Anna Dennison, Abby Escandon and Kelli Warmouth netted two goals apiece, while Taylor Cabrera, Brooke Galle, Shelby Madden, Regan Olson and Allena Wolfblack all scored once.
Olson had two assists to lead FLC, and Cabrera and Ashley Muckway led the team with three ground balls each. Daris Wienk made eight saves in goal.
Jessica Cook led CMU with five goals and two assists. Amanda Geary, Olivia Hayden and Marissa Leonardi scored two times each for the Mavericks. Lula Mitchell made 12 saves in goal for CMU.
FLC outshot the Mavericks 33-25 in the game, however the Mavericks put 21 of their shots on goal compared to 21 for the Skyhawks.
FLC will be off until April 21 when the Skyhawks will host Colorado State University-Pueblo (2-8, 1-5 RMAC).
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
