LAS VEGAS, N.M.—For the third straight week the Adams State University softball team was on the road for Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. On Saturday, the Grizzlies dropped a heartbreaking walk-off game in the opener, 2-1, before rebounding with a 6-run fifth inning in an 11-6 win in the second game to salvage split with the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls.
In the opener, the Grizzlies and Cowgirls where locked in a pitcher's dual as senior pitchers Madison Davis and
Lauren Murphy kept their opponents at bay.
The first run that came across the plate came in the bottom of the third inning as senior Jamiee Weatherbee led off the inning with a triple before a sacrifice by Chrian Bobian allowed Weatherbee to score.
The outcome of the game looked bleak for the Grizzlies, however, in the top of the seventh inning they were able to pull even. The inning started with a single by senior
Marissa Harmon before
Sheridan VanHoose, who came in and pitch ran for Harmon, scurried to second on a wild pitch. The Grizzlies then had runners on the corners with an error on a bunt attempt by Garbielle Griego allowed VanHoose to make it safely to first. VanHoose scored the run when Makenzie Villarreal singled through the left side.
The Grizzlies looked like they would have enough to blow the game wide open as
Kaesha Harper walked to load the bases with no outs. Unfortunately, a foul out, a strikeout looking and a fielder's choice ended the inning.
Bobian got the Cowgirls going with a single in the bottom of the inning before Breanna Cabrera came up big for the Cowgirls as she slapped a single up center field, allowing Bobian to score the game winning run.
In the game, the Grizzlies had eight hits with one walk and only one strikeout while Murphy fell to 4-8 on the season despite a 12-strikeout performance in which she allowed nine hits.
In the second game, the Grizzlies scored two runs off of three hits in the top of the first. They scored the first run on a double steal that allowed
Tyler Hays to score before Villarreal doubled to centerfield to score
Kalin Johnson.
The Grizzlies were able to get another run in the top of the second when Hays doubled to right center to score
Paige Reichmuth.
The Cowgirls took the goose egg off the scoreboard when Jade Callister smacked the double that got Victoria Gonzales home. Weatherbee took advantage of a Grizzly error as she reached, allowing Callister to score, cutting ASU's lead down to one.
After a scoreless third inning, the Grizzlies pushed two more runs across in the top of the fourth on Hays' hot bat as she hit a 2-run jack to left field four her third and fourth RBI of the game to extend the lead to 5-2.
The Cowgirls then had what they though was a demoralizing run in the fourth inning as they scored four runs to capture a 6-5 lead.
That was not the case, as Griego saw a moneyball come from the circle and she drove it over the left center wall for a 3-run home run to score VanHoose and
Morgan Zanski.
Hays earned another RBI, her game-leading fifth, on a single to center field to score
Hannah Wirtjes before Johnson had a 2-run single to left center to score Hays and Reichmuth.
???????Callister led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single, but the Cowgirls were not able to mount a comeback as they fell, 6-11.
Adams State had 15 hits in the game with two walks with just three strikeouts while Murphy earned the win in the circle.
Whitney Fields started the game for the Grizzlies and between her and Murphy they surrendered 11 hits and five walks while earning three strikeouts.
The Grizzlies and Cowgirls will finish out their series on Sunday with a doubleheader slated for an 11 a.m. first pitch.
