Thursday, March 5, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
SoftballSports

Softball struggles at Texas invite

Eagle Staff

By Eben Rosentrater – Sports Editor

The CSC softball team struggled during its 2023 opening preseason games at the Lubbock Sports College Invitational in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb. 8 through Feb. 11.

The long week of games proved to be a tall task for the Eagles, after seven games resulted in only two victories for the team, including four shutout losses.

Wednesday’s first game against the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds, of Portales, started off strong defensively-speaking for both teams. 

The top of the first inning saw the Greyhounds nearly load up the bases, before three quick outs from the Eagles stopped an incoming run. The bottom of the inning ended in a three-up, three-down situation for the Eagles.

ENMU found a run in the second inning, but the score remained at 1-0 until the fifth inning when the Greyhounds went on a scoring spree. They scored 11 straight runs and ended the game by mercy rule.

The following game of the double-header against the Greyhounds ended much better for the Eagles. Chadron was able to rally four runs in the third inning, a strong performance that was followed by 7-6 victory.

Thursday’s game against Lubbock Christian, of Lubbock, Texas, ended in 3-0 loss. 

The game against Minot State, of Minot, North Dakota, the following day was a nail-biting, extra innings finish. The Eagles led the game, scoring five unanswered runs through the first four innings. 

However, the Beavers rallied in the fifth inning, tying the score 5-5 in a single inning. The two teams then traded three-run innings to be tied by the end of regulation play.

The eighth inning went 0-0, but the Beavers ended the game in the ninth, scoring on an RBI single to right field, winning 9-8.

The Eagles only other victory of the trip would follow the Minot State game against the Texas-Permian Basin Falcons, of Odessa.

Chadron State’s opening inning against the Falcons saw the Eagles go up by two. The Falcons quickly responded with two runs of their own in the third inning.

However, the Eagles quickly ended the game, having back-to-back five-run innings in the fourth and fifth, defeating the Falcons by mercy rule.

Saturday’s games against Emporia State, of Emporia, Kansas, and the Eagles’ second match against Lubbock Christian ended in 0-3 and 0-8 losses respectively.

The final match of the week, the Eagles’ second match against Texas-Permian Basin, was canceled due to an unfortunate car crash involving the CSC coaches (see related story on front page).

The Eagles open regular season and RMAC play when they travel to Lakewood, Colorado, to take on the Colorado Christian Cougars on Saturday and Sunday.