In a conference series that was shortened due to cold weather, softball swept Regis in two games.
The two-game sweep on April 17 secured UCCS the sixth and final spot in the RMAC Softball Championship. This is the first time softball has qualified for the championship since 2022.
UCCS wins game 1 (9-6)
In the first inning of the series, junior catcher Katie Steinmetz got the party started for the Mountain Lions with a 2-run home run.
In the second inning, freshman infielder Halley Redd hit a single to bring sophomore infielder Laynee Case home and make it 3-0 for UCCS.
In the third, the scoreboard operator was put to work as Regis quickly responded and took a 4-3 lead.
The Mountain Lions didn’t let the scoring run rattle them, producing a scoring flurry of their own at the bottom of the third with RBIs from Case, Redd, senior corner infielder Jacquelynn Siefken and sophomore outfielder Jacqueline Berkowitz, bringing the score to 7-4.
The fourth inning would see the last scores of the game. Regis scored twice to make it 6-7, but another Steinmetz home run would put a stamp on the game, as UCCS would hold the door defensively and win, 9-6.
UCCS wins game 2 (9-8)
In the second game of the doubleheader, Ranger Ariana Ybarra seized momentum with a home run in the first inning to make it 1-0 for Regis.
UCCS would not respond until the third inning, where a single from freshman utility player Tayler McCombs would bring sophomore infielder Jennavieve Goldworth home and tie the game at 1-1.
Both offenses exploded in the fourth inning. Regis put UCCS in a tough spot by taking a 4-run lead heading into the bottom of the inning. The Mountain Lions chipped at the deficit with runs from sophomore catcher Katelyn Kilgore and junior outfielder Bailey Olerich, bringing the score to 5-3, Regis.
In the sixth inning, Siefken hit a double, bringing two runners home and evening up the game, 5-5. In the same inning, Goldsworth would capture the lead with a run that resulted from an error, bringing the score to 7-5 for the Mountain Lions.
In the seventh inning, with one last opportunity to tie, the Rangers hit a home run to cut the lead to one. The Rangers followed it up by bringing two runners home on a sacrifice bunt, giving Regis an 8-7 lead.
With UCCS on the ropes, Case would put herself on second base on a fielder’s choice. That would be all Redd would need, as a clutch walk-off home run would win the game 9-8, and reserve UCCS a spot in the 2025 RMAC Championship.
Games 3 and 4 canceled due to weather
UCCS looked to continue their momentum in the series, but unfortunately, the last games of the series were canceled due to cold weather. Cold weather has posed challenges for the team this season, but head coach Dwight Sanders said they have a mindset to persevere.
“The other team is also playing in the same elements we are. So, if it’s cold, they’re cold, but you’re less cold when you’re winning, and you’re having fun,” he said.
UCCS plays MSU Denver this weekend, the current leaders of the RMAC conference. With the Mountain Lions missing their last two games of their series against Regis, a common fear is that the team may be rusty.
Sanders believes there are advantages to the team’s extended break. “At this point of the year, it comes down to who’s healthiest sometimes, and our girls got a good mental break. They got to go home and see family,” he said.
Post-season and RMAC tournament
UCCS will play against No. 1 seed MSU Denver in a four-game series on April 25 and 26. The Mountain Lions look to capture momentum going into the tournament with a statement win on the road.
“Going out there and being able to take down the No. 1 seed in a pre-postseason setting is huge,” Sanders said. “The best teams at this point get hot, and you can ride that out. That’s kind of what we want to do, is find a way to get hot.”
The RMAC tournament starts on May 1. Students can watch the tournament on RMAC Network for a fee.
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