GRAND JUNCTION—Despite an early start, the No. 7 seeded Adams State University Softball team was unable to hold back the No.2 seeded Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in their first game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament at Colorado Mesa University on Friday. 

A five-run fifth inning helped the Orediggers get an 9-3 win over the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies will now play in the consolation bracket in which they will take on No. 3 seeded Metro State University-Denver. The Grizzlies swept the Roadrunners in a doubleheader this past Sunday at home. The game is slated to start at 5:30 p.m.

In the morning game, the Grizzlies jumped on the scoreboard early as Tyler Hays, the RMAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, was hit by a pitch. Kalin Johnson then laid down a perfect bunt that narrowly went down the third baseline and stayed fair. April Riggins then jumped out and nailed a solid RBI single down the left field line to score Hays from second.

Marissa Harmon, who was named to the RMAC First Team and had 10 RBI and two homers just four days ago, shocked the Orediggers with a sacrifice bunt. The Grizzlies then scored their second run when McKenzie Villarreal just missed a home run but earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the inning, the Orediggers only had one base runner, who reached on a dropped third strike.

Paige Reichmuth got a hit in the top of the second but they were unable to score, and senior pitcher Lauren Murphy, who was named honorable mention All-RMAC, allowed two hits but shut the door to keep ASU with the 2-0 advantage.

After a 1-2-3 top of the third, two infield hits hurt ASU as a throwing error on a failed pick off attempt. The Orediggers capitalized and tied the game at two with a single up the middle. They used the base paths to their advantage as the had a double steal to make take a 1-run lead. 

The lead was short-lived, however, as Villarreal lead off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left field to knot the score at three. The Grizzlies applied some pressure as Gabrielle Griego drew a four-pitch walk and forced RMAC Coach of the Year, Leah Glasgow, to make a pitching change. The first pitch from the new pitcher plunked Cheyenne Hamilton to put two runners on and no outs. Despite that, the Grizzlies could not score and the score remained 3-3 going to the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom half, Murphy showed off her stellar pitching as she had two strikeouts and a groundouts to set the Orediggers down in order. 

The Orediggers were able to take the lead in the bottom on the fifth as they scratched a run across before a 3-run blast gave them 7-3 lead. The Orediggers then added an additional run to make the score 8-3.

The Orediggers then added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the win.