After suffering back-to-back one-run losses to Adams State, the Fort Lewis College softball team refused to leave Alamosa without a victory Sunday.
The Skyhawks (4-25, 3-17 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) dropped both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader, 9-1 and 8-7, to the Grizzlies. They had victory in their grasp in game one Sunday, but couldn’t close the deal as a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning won it for Adams State.
However, the Skyhawks got stronger and stronger as the weekend went on and took the final game of the four-game set 11-6.
The weekend didn’t get off to a good start as Adams State cruised to a convincing victory in Saturday’s opener. The Grizzlies were well on their way to duplicating the dominance, up 8-0 in game two, but Fort Lewis came alive.
Though the Skyhawks couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 8-7, they took some positive momentum into Sunday’s doubleheader.
Fort Lewis started the day strong as Angelique Elemen’s first-inning double gave the team an early lead. Tristen Gilbert and Mandy Owens added to the lead in a three-run third inning, and Kassidy Buis’ fifth-inning single gave FLC a 6-3 lead. Adams State (10-21, 9-12 RMAC) responded with three runs in the sixth to tie the game. Game one went to extra innings and FLC took command in the eighth inning when Tehenia Telliano drove in the go-ahead run.
Adams State got a two-out, two-run double from Gabriella Griego in the bottom of the inning to win.
In Sunday’s second matchup, FLC used two big innings to finally stop the Grizzlies. Elemen got things going again with a two-run single that started the scoring in a four-run third inning. Telliano followed with a two-run home run that plated Elemen and gave FLC a 4-0 lead.
Adams State answered with two runs off winning pitcher Kelley Decker, but the Skyhawks got those runs back and more. FLC used five Grizzlies errors to put up seven runs in the fifth inning and take a commanding 11-2 lead.
Lauren Caldwell was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk in the win. Telliano was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored to lead the Fort Lewis offense.
Gilbert, Buis and Kellsi Peterson each had two hits in the game one loss.
Fort Lewis will host a doubleheader with Colorado Mesa at noon Saturday. The games will be played at Aztec Tiger Sports Complex in Aztec, New Mexico.
Women’s Lacrosse
Women’s LacrosseNo. 17 Regis came to Fort Lewis College’s Ray Dennison Memorial Field Sunday with a perfect record. After 60 minutes of action with the Skyhawks, they left town still unblemished.
Wendy Donier scored five goals to lead the 16-8 Rangers win. Sammy Delli and Kelli Warmouth led Fort Lewis with two.
The Rangers scored four goals in the first six minutes to take command early. FLC’s Jocelyn Welberg stopped the bleeding with her first career goal, but Regis responded with the next four goals to take an 8-1 lead.
FLC trailed 9-3 at halftime, and Regis poured it on in the second half. The Rangers eventually built their lead to 10 goals and coasted to their eighth consecutive victory.
Regis outshot FLC 28-26. Andrea Macalalad and Ali Vanek added three goals each for the Rangers.
Fort Lewis will try to turn it around at 4 p.m. Wednesday with a game at Colorado Mesa.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
