run | unsplash by Miguel A Amutio
run | unsplash by Miguel A Amutio
DENVER, Colo. – Throwing her eighth complete game of the season, Amiee Shanks held down the Metropolitan State University of Denver in game one en route to a 4-1 victory, but the Roadrunners offense rallied late in game two, winning a 9-7 decision and forcing a split through the first pair of a four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series.
Fort Lewis knocks off the Roadrunners in Denver, Colo., for the first time since Apr. 21, 1985, to advance to 11-18 overall and 9-13 through conference play. MSU Denver falls to 24-9 and 20-2 in RMAC play as the Skyhawks hand the Roadrunners just its second conference loss of the season.
Alex Tenorio led all Skyhawks at the plate with three hits and four runs batted in. Cara Daugherty, Alyssa Gutierrez, Catheryn Rodman, and Sabrina Carrillo each tallied two hits as well. Miah Hartvigsen and Jenna Medhus each found two hits on the afternoon, but Medhus led the duo with a pair of home runs to total three runs scored and two RBIs. As a team, both the Skyhawks and Roadrunners had 14 hits on the afternoon.
GAME ONE – FORT LEWIS 4, MSU DENVER 1
Even after the series was moved back two days the Skyhawks stayed ready to compete, and Sloan Shotton showed it with a statement in game one. After Gutierrez drew a lead-off walk to start the game, Shotton homered to center field the next at-bat putting FLC ahead early 2-0.
Shanks (8-5) toed the rubber to open the series and dominated MSU Denver from the circle. Shanks allowed just two runners to reach base through the first four innings of play with a walk – her only of the game – and an error.
The Roadrunners found their first scoring opportunity of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth inning after Audrey Burt doubled and Aaliyah Arellano followed suit with a single to put runners on second and third. With two outs, however, Shanks shut it down forcing Adriana Bueno to ground into a double play and end the frame.
In the top of the sixth, Fort Lewis picked up a pair of insurance runs from a two-run home run off the bat of Tenorio that cleared the left field fence for the 4-0 lead. The Roadrunners would plate one run in the bottom of the seventh, but Shanks forced a ground ball, her 15th of the contest, to end the game. Shanks picked up the win after allowing just one run on five hits, one walk, and one strikeout. Cheyenne Prieto (6-1) went the distance for MSU Denver and was credited for the loss, her first of the season.
GAME TWO – MSU DENVER, 9, FORT LEWIS 7
The Skyhawks rode the momentum heading into game two, striking first once again in the top of the first frame on a single from Tenorio and an infield groundout from Rodman. A pair of walks gave the Roadrunners a chance in the bottom half, but a pop fly would end the inning.
Gutierrez tripled in the top of the third inning to kickstart the momentum once more. Tenorio picked up a sacrifice fly to right field to score Gutierrez, and Rodman doubled the following at-bat to create another scoring opportunity for FLC. Carrillo took advantage quickly, sending her second home run of the season to left field for the 4-0 lead. MSU Denver would answer, however, as Medhus picked up the first of her two home runs with a solo shot to open the bottom of the third inning.
After cutting down the Skyhawks in back-to-back innings, Medhus opened the bottom of the fifth inning with her second solo home run of the afternoon. MSUD followed a single with a double just a few batters later to cut the lead to 4-3 in favor of Fort Lewis.
MSU Denver's offense erupted in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring six runs on five hits highlighted by a pair of home runs from Arellano and Maddy Wilson. Now trailing 9-4, Fort Lewis was down to its final three outs. The Skyhawks utilized four singles alongside an error by the Roadrunners to pull back within two, but MSU Denver notched the final out with the winning run on second base to take game two, 9-7, and force a day one split.
Wilson (4-1) earned the win while throwing 3.0 innings of relief ball and allowing three runs, all unearned, on four hits and one walk. Labraida Tenorio (1-6) was credited for the loss after throwing the final 1.1 innings and giving up six runs on five hits.
TWO TO GO
The Skyhawks and Roadrunners will continue the four-game series with another doubleheader tomorrow, Monday, Mar. 27, starting at 11:00 a.m.
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