Softball | 3/22/2017 6:02:00 PM

ALAMOSA, Colo. (March 22, 2017) – The Adams State University softball team will host the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks in a four game series March 25th and 26th. This weekend's games mark the beginning of an eight game home stand for the Grizzlies, their longest of the season. The two teams will play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday at the ASU softball field. Saturday game times are 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm while Sunday's games will start at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Last Time Out
Sunday was not kind to the ASU softball team as they dropped both games in the second day doubleheader by scores of 7-2 and 11-10. The second game was a 10-inning thriller that saw ASU ride a rollercoaster of emotions. The second game saw the Grizzlies let a 3-run lead slip away and then they saw their comeback attempt fall just short. ASU jumped on the scoreboard first when Kalin Johnson singled to left center to score Hays. Senior Jamie Weatherbee opened the bottom of the inning with a double before she knotted up the game at 1-1. A single in the bottom of the second made the score 2-1 before ASU found a rhythm in the top of the third as they reeled off four runs. All the home runs came off the bat of Mackenzie Villarreal, who hit her first Grizzly grand slam to score April Riggins, Harmon and Gabrielle Griego. The Cowgirls buckled down in the fourth inning however as they answered back with six runs of their own including a double and a triple. Roberts had an RBI in the top of the fifth inning before two more Cowgirl runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 10-6. The Grizzlies tied up the game with a four-run seventh inning including RBI's from Hays, Johnson, Harmon and Cheyenne Hamilton. The Grizzlies sat the Cowgirls down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Adams State loaded the bases with one out, however a double play to third base ended the threat. The Grizzlies didn't bend though as they once again had defensive flexibility and sat NMHU down in order. The ninth inning would be the doom for the Grizzlies as they went down in order and had two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth before the wheels came off. With two outs and two runners on base, including the winning run on third, Bates slapped a single to left field, giving Moya the green light to score. The Grizzlies had 17 hits in the game and drew six bases on balls while just striking out twice. Lauren Murphy and Madison Vrabel were the pitchers for the Grizzlies and they finished by allowing 14 hits and two walks and two strikeouts.

Scouting The Skyhawks
Fort Lewis enters this weekend's action with an overall record of 3-22 while hold a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record of 2-14. The Skyhawks record on the road this season is 0-9. They are coming into this weekend's action having won their last outing, a 5-3 home victory over Regis University. The 2017 squad has five seniors leading a group which includes 11 freshmen and 2 sophomores. Senior shortstop Adriana Rosthenhausler leads the Skyhawks in batting with a .379 average this season while the pitching staff is led by freshman pitcher Madison Stanich  with two victories on the season.

Scouting The Grizzlies
Adams State enters play this weekend with a season record of 7-19, 3-11 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Grizzlies enter the series coming off a loss at New Mexico Highlands.  Despite the Grizzlies dropping three of the four games to the Cowgirls, they were led by Tyler Hays. Hays started last weekend going 0-for-4 but in the final three games she was an astounding 11-of-14 (.786) at the plate. She finished the weekend 11-of-18 (.611). Of those 11 hits, five were extra base hits including two home runs. She had six RBI and scored seven runs. She drew one walk and had contact in all 18 of her plate appearances as she did not strikeout once. She currently leads the conference in batting by two points with a .517 batting average; leads the hits category by three with 46.

Last Time We Met
This will be the first and only regular season meeting between these two teams. Over the past three seasons Adams State has a record of 6-4 against Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks have just one win in four outings in Alamosa during that time while the Grizzlies have won three of six meetings on the road. The last time these two teams played in Alamosa was in March 2015 when the Grizzlies won three of the four games.

Conference Glance
RMAC                        Overall
Metro State Denver              15-1                21-8
Colorado Mines                    14-2                17-5   
Colorado Mesa                     13-2                20-4   
Colorado Christian              8-4                  18-10 
Chadron State                      8-7                  11-15 
Regis                                      8-8                  16-16 
CSU-Pueblo                         8-8                  11-13 
New Mexico Highlands      6-10                9-20   
Adams State                        6-10                7-19   
UCCS                                   2-14                3-18   
Fort Lewis                            2-14                3-22   
Black Hills State                   1-11                3-17
 
Looking Ahead
Following this weekend's four game series, the Grizzlies are scheduled to host Colorado School of Mines April 1^st and 2^nd followed by a weekend series at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs April 8^th and 9^th..
 
Stay Connected
For any updates regarding Adams State athletics stay connected with www.asugrizzlies.com! Updates are also available through the Grizzlies official Twitter (@ASUGrizzlies) and Facebook (/TheAsuGrizzlies) accounts.
 
Team Posters
Fans, team posters are available online at www.asugrizzlies.com. Navigate to the 'Fan Zone' at the top of the ASU home page to find our 'Team Posters' link. Team posters will be updated and added over the course of the year. Hard copies of posters are also available at the ASU athletic office.