Eagles gain three big wins in Vegas

Eagles happen in Vegas but they didn’t stay in Vegas.

The Eagles finished the weekend’s series against New Mexico Highlands with the majority of the games, 3-1, in Las Vegas. The Eagles now hold a 7-13 record, with a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record of 7-9.

The team started the weekend with a win Saturday, 9-2.

In the second inning, Bailey Marvel, redshirt sophomore of Lakewood, Colorado, was walked, advancing the base runners, and bringing Ellie Owens, redshirt senior of Longmont, Colorado, in for a run. 

Following Marvel, Jessie Henchenski, freshman of Fort Collins, Colorado, hit a single to right center, advanced to second and earned two RBIs. Henchenski brought in Samantha Conradie, freshman of Broomfield, Colorado, and Mackenzi Kroll, redshirt freshman of Brighton, Colorado.

Kroll homered to center field in the third inning, bringing herself, Owens and Micah Stouffer, redshirt freshman of Rushville, home.

Scoring in the fifth inning started with a homer from Stouffer to center field. Kroll followed with another homer down the left field line, bringing in runs from Owens and herself.

Pitching in the first game for the Eagles was Tia Kohl, redshirt junior of Wichita, Kansas. She faced 28 at bats, pitched five strikeouts, six hits, and two runs through the seven innings of the game. Kohl pitched two errors, hitting a batter once with a pitch, with 11 fly outs and five ground outs.

In their second Saturday game, the Eagles lost, 4-2, to the Cowgirls, struggling to score until the last inning.

In the seventh inning, Owens brought in Quijas, redshirt freshman of Erie, Colorado, with a single to left centerfield, the first run for the Eagles.

Kroll made it to base following an error by left field, advancing to second while Owens ran home for another run.

Peyton Propp, freshman of Lakewood, Colorado, began the game as pitch, pitching the first three innings. Propp pitched 14 at bats, with five hits, four runs, and four walks. She pitched one errors, four fly outs and five ground outs.

Closing for second half of the game, Gabby Russell, redshirt junior of Oceanside, California, pitched three innings as well. Russell pitched seven at bats, walked one batter, five fly outs and two ground outs.

Returning to Highlands University softball field Sunday to play extra innings in both games but finishing both games victorious.

For their third game in the series, The Eagles played nine innings, eventually taking the game by a run following a fielder error, 5-4. 

In the second inning, Stouffer homered to left center, earning the first run of the game for the Eagles.

Moving into the sixth inning, Owens walked, advancing the runners to bringing Angelica Maples, senior of Marysville, California, home. Spears singled to shortstop, advancing runners, and bringing in Ali Conder, junior of Fernley, Nevada, for a run. Conradie was walked, moving Spears and Owens, and allowing Stouffer to score.

Going extra innings into the ninth, Stouffer made it to base following an error by shortstop, advancing Quijas to third and Marvel scored, brining the Eagles ahead and winning the game.

Kohl pitched the full nine innings for Sunday’s first game, pitching 36 at bats. She pitched three strike outs, three walks, and nine hits with four runs eventually earned by New Mexico Highlands. She pitched four errors, and hit two batters, with 14 fly outs and 10 ground outs.

The last game of the series remained scoreless until the eighth inning, when the Eagles scored four runs, winning three of the four games played over the weekend.

Kroll started the scoring for the Eagles with a single to left field, batting in Ellie Owens for the run and advance Spears to second base.

Following was a singe to centerfield by Conradie, advancing Kroll to second and bringing Spears in for a run.

Quijas hit a single, eventually advancing herself to third with in field throws. Marvel and Conradie added two more runs to the scoreboard. 

Propp pitched all eight innings of the game, striking out eight batters, walking two. There were two hits on her pitches, but there were no runs scored. Propp had a wild pitch and hit a batter once. She faced 29 batters, with six fly outs and 10 ground outs.

After previous home postponements, The Eagles will host a series of doubleheaders against MSU-Denver, two games Friday starting at noon and two games Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.