April 10, 2009

After Loss Rangers Comeback for Ninth Inning Victory Over Chadron State in Game Two

Denver, Colo.: After squandering a one run lead in the top of the seventh, Regis fell 7-3 to the Chadron State Eagles in game one. Freshman pitcher Nikki Haberkorn gave up five runs in the seventh on three Eagle hits and one Ranger error. In game two, sophomore pitcher Bianca Holley recorded the 5-4 win for the Rangers leading them to a split on the day.

To start off the first game, Chadron State (17-20, 9-12 RMAC) scored one run in the top of the first to take the lead. The Rangers quickly answered back scoring two in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and freshman Natalie Adami, who reached on a fielder’s choice, at first, senior Jackie Martinez homered to left field for the two runs.

The next three innings went scoreless for both teams before the Eagles and the Rangers each tallied one run in the fifth setting the score at 3-2 in favor of Regis. With one out, sophomore Alisa Heronema singled to left field. After a fly out, Heronema advanced to second on Adami’s walk and then crossed the plate on a single up the middle by Martinez who recorded all three of Regis’ RBI’s in the game.

The sixth went scoreless before the Eagles registered five runs in the top of the seventh. With Regis unable to answer back in the bottom of the inning, the victory went to Chadron State. Haberkorn recorded the loss for the Rangers. Chadron State tallied ten hits on the game while Haberkorn fanned seven batters and walked just one.

Sophomore Bianca Holley started on the mound for the Rangers (26-17, 18-10 RMAC) in game two and helped lead the Rangers to two scoreless innings before the Eagles took a two run lead in the top of the third. Cassie Humphrey reached on a single up the middle and was brought in on a two run homer to centerfield by Allison Hendricksen. That two run shot was Hendricksen’s second homerun on the day.

Regis tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a triple by Martinez. Sophomore Jamie Winsor led off the inning with a double to left center before Martinez tripled to right field to score her. After an overthrow to third by Chadron State’s Kristy Long, Martinez advanced to home for the second run.

In an impressive defensive fifth inning, the Rangers got out of a zero out bases loaded scenario. Batters one and two reached base for the Eagles on two singles before a Ranger error allowed bases loaded. Holley snagged the first out after getting the lead runner at home. Winsor stole the next one at the plate before a third out was drawn on a ground out to sophomore second baseman Amber Aragon-Autobee.

The fifth and sixth innings went scoreless before the Eagles scored two runs on two hits taking advantage of two Ranger errors in the top of the seventh. This gave Chadron a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Regis tied the score to take the game into extra innings. Junior Maureen McDaniel pinch hit for freshman Maegan Cooley and homered over the right center fence to score the first run of the inning for the Rangers. With two outs, Heronema singled through the right side before being brought in on a left center double by Winsor.

The eighth inning went scoreless as did the top of the ninth. To lead off for the Rangers in the bottom of the inning, Haberkorn tripled to right field. Aragon-Autobee scored Haberkorn for the winning run on a single to left center. Recording the win was Holley who allowed nine hits while fanning nine and walking four.

The series between Regis and Chadron State will conclude in a double header on Saturday at the Regis Softball Field. The first pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.