DURANGO—The final weekend of the regular season for the Adams State University Softball team saw them not only battling the Fort Lewis Skyhawks but also mother nature as wind gusts forced several high popups create havoc and even prevent two fly balls from going over the fence as they were able to salvage a split at Aspen Field on Saturday.

The Grizzlies lost the 4-game series opener 9-7, before rebounding and winning a slugfest, 14-12, in the second game. Adams State improved to 18-28 overall and 16-18 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Entering the weekend, ASU entered sitting in eighth place in the standings with a 2-game advantage over the ninth place team, CSU-Pueblo. After Saturday's games, ASU is now in seventh place with a half-game lead over Western New Mexico who lost both their games to Regis on Saturday. ASU needs to win at least one game to secure a spot in the RMAC tournament, which is set to take place next week in Grand Junction.

In the opening game, Adams State scored first as Kalin Johnson stole third and scored on a wild throw. FLC then scored two runs in the bottom half. Marissa Harmon then scored a single run in the top of the third to tie the game before FLC scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Adams State continued to chip away as they scored single runs in the fourth and the fifth before a 4-run bottom of the sixth inning.

Leading 9-4 heading into the final inning, the Grizzlies plated three runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead down to two, 9-7.  Including a solo home run from Gabrielle Griego, who hit her 12th homer of the season. She had a shot in the top of the first inning that should have been a home run but stayed up just long enough to be caught.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Olivia Goldberg entered the game in relief of Victoria Johnson and captured the final out of the game to earn the save and a win for the Skyhawks, 9-7.

Johnson started the game in the circle and pitched 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on 16 hits.
 Missy Fundora finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored for FLC.  Angelique Elemen went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and Lauren Caldwell added two hits, three runs batted in and a run scored.  Gianna Melaragno tallied two hits and two runs batted in.  The Skyhawks posted 11 hits in game one and stranded eight batters.

Adams State was led by Harmon, who was 3-of-5 at the played with a run scored while Cheyenne Hamilton was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Lauren Murphy, who tallied 5.1 innings, allowed 10 hits and all nine runs with five walks and three strikeouts. Kacee Schroeder came in and had .2 innings pitched with a walk and hit.

Adams State opened out the scoring with a single run in the top of the first inning, before FLC countered with two in the bottom half. Both teams scored three runs in the second inning before ASU tied it up with an unearned run in the third innng before Tyler Hays put ASU up by four runs with a 3-run blast over the left field wall in the fourth.

Adams State then scored a single run in the fifth before FLC rattled off five straight runs in the bottom of the fifth. ASU was able to win the game with four runs, including a 2-run single from Griego, in the top of the seventh.

FLC trailed 14-10 going into the bottom of the seventh inning,   Melaragno started the inning off with a double to left center.  Fundora grounded out to second base before Adriana Rosthenhausler drew a walk.  Tehenia Telliano added a run with a single to score Melaragno and Tristen Gilbert brought home Rosthenhausler off of a double to centerfield. 

ASU ended the game as Murphy came in to get a double play that saw a play at first base before a play at home plate saw Harmon get bulled over but she held on to the ball for the final out.

Goldberg pitched the entire game, surrendering eight earned runs on 18 hits.  Melaragno led the offense with three hits, three runs scored and two runs batted in.  Telliano, Gilbert and Mandy Owens each chipped in three hits as FLC finished the game with 15.

ASU saw Paige Reichmuth go 3-for-5 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored while Griego was 3-of-5 with 3 RBI and 1 run scored. Alex Quintana was 3-of-4 in the game with two RBI and three runs scored.

Madisen Vrabel was the starting pitcher but was removed after 1.1 innings of work in which she was tabbed for 5 runs on 4 hits and three walks. Kaitlin Hoffman was the winning pitcher as she allowed seven runs, only two were earned on 11 hits and two walks. While Lauren Murphy earned her second save of the season.

The two teams are set to finish up the regular season on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.