Softball | 4/25/2017 10:00:00 AM

ALAMOSA, Colo. (April 25, 2017) – The Adams State University softball team returns home to host Metropolitan State University of Denver in a four-game series April 29^th  and 30^th.

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.

With this being the final home series of the season, it will be Parent's Weekend. Sunday has been designated Senior Day as the Grizzlies honor Gabrielle Griego, Marissa Harmon, Kaitlin Hoffmann, Kalin Johnson, Jasmine Pemble, Alexandria Quintana, Paige Reichmuth, Kacee Schroeder, and redshirt senior Lauren Murphy.

Last Time Out
Adams State kept their postseason hopes alive on Sunday as they pulled out a split and salvaged one win during their four-game series with the Chadron State College Eagles. On Sunday, a day after the Eagles clinched a playoff spot, the Grizzlies fell 6-1 in the opening game before rallying back and getting an 8-1 win in the final game.
The second game saw two three-run innings for the Grizzlies as they rallied for 13 hits. The first run came in the top of the second inning when Paige Reichmuth grounded out with the bases loaded to push April Riggins across the plate. The first three-run inning all happened on one swing off the bat as McKenzie Villarreal hit a three-run jack to center field to score seniors Gabrielle Griego and Marissa Harmon. The Eagles scratched their lone run across in the bottom of the third. ASU then scored three in the top of the fifth as Griego homered to left center for a solo run before Cheyenne Hamilton singled to center field to score Villarreal and McWilliams. The final run of the game came on an error that saw Hamilton reach and McWilliams score. The player of the game had to be Villarreal, who was 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBI. Lauren Murphy earned the win and moved to 12-10 as she pitched a complete game while allowing just two hits. She had five strikeouts on the day.

Scouting The Roadrunners
Metro State enters weekend action with an overall record of 34-17 while holding a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record of 26-10. They are tied for 2^nd place in the conference with Colorado School of Mines. The Roadrunners come to Alamosa having lost their last four outings in a road series against Colorado School of Mines. The 2017 squad boasts plenty experience with 10 of their 16 players being either juniors or seniors. Junior Annika Anderson leads the offense with a .439 batting average, 3^rd best in the conference. Metro's pitching staff features seniors Cassidy Smith and Hayley Fields who each have a 2.90 ERA on the season.

Scouting The Grizzlies
Adams State enters play this weekend with a season record of 17-29, 16-20 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Grizzlies enter the series coming off last weekend's series against Chadron State in which ASU lost three of the four games.  Adams' offense is led by sophomore Tyler Hays with a RMAC best .492 batting average. She is followed by senior Marissa Harmon with a .385 average. Adams State has compiled a 9-7 record when playing at home this season.

Last Time We Met
This will be the only regular season meeting between these two teams. Over the past three seasons Adams State has a record of 4-8 against Metro State. The Grizzlies lost three of four games in Denver during the 2016 and 2014 season. The two teams split their four games in Alamosa during the 2015 season.

Conference Glance
                                            RMAC        Overall
Colorado Mesa                      31-4                38-6   
Colorado Mines                     26-10              29-13 
MSU Denver                        26-10              34-17 
Chadron State                      21-14              25-23 
Regis                                   20-16              28-24 
Colorado Christian                 17-15              27-21 
CSU-Pueblo                          16-20              19-25 
New Mexico Highlands           16-20              19-30 
Adams State                        16-20              17-29 
UCCS                                   14-22              15-26 
Fort Lewis                              5-31                6-39   
Black Hills State                     3-29                5-35

Looking Ahead
This weekend action will determine if the Grizzlies will play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Softball Tournament. Adams State is currently tied with Colorado State University-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands University with a RMAC record of 16-20. CSU-Pueblo plays this weekend at first place Colorado Mesa University while New Mexico Highlands plays at Regis University. The RMAC Tournament fields the top eight conference teams.
 
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.