Eagles knock out 3 victories

The Chadron State Eagles softball team split both doubleheaders against RMAC rival Black Hills State University on March 7 and 8.

The roller coaster weekend started with a 9-1 Eagle mercy rule victory. After going into the third inning with a 2-0 lead, the Eagles went on a ridiculous hitting streak, scoring seven runs off of five hits; an error; and Zoe Humphries, sophomore of Arvada, Colorado, walking after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Black Hills State scored an unearned run in the fifth to try and close the gap, but Humphries made the final out at home plate to seal the victory. Tayler Hall, junior of Windsor, Colorado, picked up her second victory on the season with no earned runs and nine strikeouts.

Not to be outdone, Black Hills came back in the second game to mercy rule the Eagles, also ending their victory in the fifth inning with a score of 11-3. The Eagles were down 7-0 before scoring in the fourth, when Aspen Eubanks, freshman of Broomfield, Colorado, and Rebecca Wetsch, senior of Erie, Colorado, both scored unearned runs. At the top of the fifth, the Yellow Jackets hit a 3-run homer to cement the victory.

Sunday’s games were more of the same for the Eagles, with a 5-4 win in the first game following with a 9-4 loss in the afternoon. The Eagles scored all of their runs in the fourth inning to win the first game, after giving Black Hills an early 2-0 lead.

Katelyn Kruger, junior of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, doubled to begin the inning, and was brought home when Shea Graham, junior of Colorado Springs, Colorado, nailed a single up the middle. Courtney Lecher, sophomore of Fort Collins, Colorado, went on to crush a three-run homer and take the lead for the Eagles. Hall threw another seven strikeouts to hold off the Yellow Jackets.

Once again, the second game was an almost exact reversal, with Black Hills scoring five runs in the fourth to hold off CSC. Humphries jacked her fourth home run of the season, and Jessica Eatmon, senior of Broomfield, Colorado, also hit a two-run homer in the loss.

Katelyn Kruger, junior of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, doubled to begin the inning, and was brought home when Shea Graham, junior of Colorado Springs, Colorado, nailed a single up the middle. Courtney Lecher, sophomore of Fort Collins, Colorado, went on to crush a 3-run homer and take the lead for the Eagles. Hall threw another seven strikeouts to hold off the Yellow Jackets.

The second game was an almost exact reversal, with Black Hills scoring five runs in the fourth to hold off CSC. Humphries jacked her fourth home run of the season, and Jessica Eatmon, senior of Broomfield, Colorado, also hit a 2-run homer in the loss.

CSC softball suffered three losses in four games against RMAC foe Fort Lewis College this weekend in Colorado in a two-day doubleheader. The Skyhawks would outlast the Eagles on day one winning 5-2 in the first game and 8-4 in the second game.

Kruger led CSC on day one with three hits in five at bats and four RBIs. Kruger and Eubanks both hit solo home runs in game one to help CSC get out to an early 2-0 lead, but Fort Lewis would get within one at the bottom of the second inning.

Fort Lewis mounted a comeback in the bottom of the third inning after keeping CSC scoreless, with the help of Jeovanna Rios, junior outfielder of West Covina, California, who hit a 2-run home run to center field. Fort Lewis added two more runs in the bottom of the third to lead 5-2 and take the first game. Both teams held each other defensively, allowing only one hit each in the fourth inning.

In the circle, Hall struck out eight batters in the first game and allowed four earned runs.

Fort Lewis carried its hitting momentum into game two, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, but CSC responded with the continued strong hitting from Kruger, who notched an RBI to cut the lead to 3-1. Yet again, Fort Lewis dominated the second inning, as the Skyhawks scored four runs on four hits. Rios led the way in the second, hitting her second home run of the day. CSC only hit two runs in the fifth inning and one in the seventh to bring the final score to 8-4.

Cierra Cosslett, junior pitcher of Grand Junction, Colorado, struck out five in just over five innings in the second game.

Day two was a little different for CSC, 4-20 overall and 4-8 conference, as they took game one 6-1. Kruger continued her strong hitting as she and Humphries hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the first inning to give CSC an early 2-0 lead. Two more runs pushed CSC’s lead to 4-1 after four innings. Fort Lewis’s single run came from Rios who singled to right center field in the first inning.

Fort Lewis struggled defensively, giving up six runs on 10 hits in game one, allowing Kruger to do most of the damage. Kruger led all CSC hitters for the third straight game with three hits in four at bats and two RBI’s. Senior catcher Casey Polk, of Golden, Colorado, chipped in a perfect two-for-two, including a double while at bat. Humphries also added two hits and an RBI. Hall had a strong day on the mound, striking out seven batters and allowed just a single earned run.

CSC started off game two with a 2-0 lead after a leadoff home run from Humphries and a Lecher double. The Skyhawks, 12-12 overall and 10-4 conference, did not wait long to get back into the second game. Back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the fourth inning tied the game 2-2. Rios gave Fort Lewis its first lead in the fifth inning, nailing a 3-run home run, bringing the score to 5-2. CSC would not score again, splitting the second day against the Skyhawks.

CSC returns to action Saturday and Sunday at home against RMAC opponent Colorado Christian University with a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch is scheduled for noon, Saturday and 11 a.m., Sunday.