Riding a six-game winning streak, the Fort Lewis Skyhawks had the wind taken from their sail Sunday in Pueblo.
The FLC softball team (16-14, 12-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) dropped a pair of conference games to CSU-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands at Rawlings Field in Pueblo.
“It was a tough couple of losses,” FLC head coach Kira Zeiter said.
FLC opened the day with an 8-6 loss to CSU-Pueblo (12-13, 9-5 RMAC) before falling 5-3 to N.M. Highlands (7-19, 3-14 RMAC).
The first game against the ThunderWolves got out of hand quickly as CSU-Pueblo scored all eight of its runs in the first two innings, including a five-run bottom of the first.
“We always prefer to be the one to jump on top of the other team, so that way you get a feeling of comfort,” Zeiter said. “When you have to come from behind, you don’t get that.”
FLC had eight hits in the game but six of them were singles. Three of the Skyhawks’ six runs came thanks to passed balls or wild pitches, and Hayley Bolyard scored twice on passed balls. She led the team with two hits, and Destinee DeHerrera had two runs batted in.
Victoria Johnson (6-6) took the loss for the Skyhawks after allowing five earned runs in 1/3 of an inning of work. She gave up four hits and walked one.
“You gotta give Pueblo credit; they came out swinging. There was a fire in their eyes after (Saturday),” Zeiter said, referencing the Skyhawks’ 8-2 win against the ThunderWolves on Saturday. “Credit to them for swinging the bats well.”
Kiley Raica and Katie Watkins both pitched in relief of Johnson. Watkins gave up three runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings, and Raica didn’t allow a run while giving up only three hits in 4 1/3 innings.
The second game was a tough loss to swallow for the Skyhawks, as N.M. Highlands is in last place of the RMAC standings.
Four fielding errors directly led to two runs for the Cowgirls, and that was the difference in the game.
“Four errors is always tough to recover from. When something like that happens, you have to step up with the bats and make up for it, and we didn’t,” Zeiter said.
FLC had 10 hits in the game but failed to hit a home run, and the long ball is what has carried the Skyhawks offense much of the season.
“I would like to see the team advance runners more when we need to, that way, when home runs don’t come, you can play small ball. We need to play more fundamental softball,” Zeiter said.
FLC opened the scoring with one run in the bottom of the third when a Chelsea Rodriguez double scored Adriana Rosthenhausler, who was 3-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI.
But N.M. Highlands scored three in the bottom of the third to take a lead it wouldn’t surrender.
The Cowgirls scored one run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Both runs scored thanks to the Cowgirls’ leadoff hitter reaching on an errors to start the innings.
FLC tried to mount a late rally in the top of the seventh. Trailing 5-1, the Skyhawks scored two runs but fell short of a comeback. Kaitlyn Bending started the frame with a single and Missy Fundora followed with a single of her own. Rosthenhausler then doubled to right field to drive Bending home, and a Rodriguez sacrifice fly scored Fundora. The game ended on a Destinee DeHerrera groundout.
Rodriguez was 1-for-2 in the game with two RBIs. Raica pitched three innings and gave up three runs on five hits. She struck out four. Katie Watkins pitched another three innings and gave up four hits and two runs, none of which were earned.
“I think both pitchers did a pretty nice job. It was one of those things where it didn’t come together for us as a team,” Zeiter said. “The loss wasn’t one person’s fault. As a team, we have to recover before next weekend.
FLC hits the road again for four games Saturday and Sunday at Colorado School of Mines (8-15, 4-10 RMAC) in Golden.
Zeiter is giving the team a few days off to enjoy the start of spring break before buckling down to focus on the last half of the conference schedule.
“The girls can move away from school and softball for a few days and that time to refocus and get back in the mind-set we want before next weekend,” Zeiter said. “It will be nice to look back at the six-game winning streak we had, and we are looking to find that again starting next weekend.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
