GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Facing elimination in the 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament, Adams State University softball team rallied down two to defeat the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs by a score of 9-6. Adams moves on past day one in the double-elimination tournament, will play the loser of the game against first-ranked Colorado Mesa and fourth-ranked MSU-Denver at 3:15 p.m. Friday.
 
 
Facing elimination after falling to Colorado Christian University by a score of 1-2 in the first game, Adams out after a large lightning delay and let up a quick score to UCCS. Shelby Haskins would keep the hopes alive in the top of the second, hitting a solo home run to right field.
 
UCCS would respond, hitting in two runs, one of which off a solo home run. Down 1-3, Tyler Hays stepped to the plate and smash a two-run home run to left center to tie the game up. The bottom of the fifth would put UCCS up three after scoring on a wild pitch and a two-run double.
 
The Grizzlies would score one in the sixth, then the seventh came. Down three and facing elimination and the end of their season, the Grizzlies pulled out magic. Things started off with Haskins flying out for out one. April Riggins stepped up next, singling to right field to keep the Grizzlies hopes alive. In the next at bat, Brittany Phillips was looking to crush one. Phillips fouled off the first two hits, then showed poise letting two balls go by. The next pitch will be one the Mountain Lions want back, as Phillips smashed a home run to right field to tie the game up.
 
With the foot on the pedal, Adams was in the driver's seat. With the score tied Hannah Wirtjes stepped up next and singled, followed by Taya McWilliams. Pitcher Kacee Schroeder came up to bat, getting called on a familiar call this season to Adams for bunting and leaving the batting box early. Two outs and game tied, Sheridan VanHoose came up next and kept it alive, making contact that went to the third baseman who couldn't handle it. Bases loaded, Kaytlynn Johnson had a three-run double next down the left line to put Adams up three runs.
 
Defense was all that was needed now for the comeback. Schroeder stepped into the circle, flying out the first batter then allowing a single up the left side. The next batter up singled to left field, putting runners on first and second. A wild pitch moved the two into scoring position and the tying run battling. That's when Schroeder took over, striking out the next two batters in an eight-pitch battle and a six-pitch finale.
Phillips is the hero of the game, but Johnson and McWilliams were the ones the team needed, stepping up with three hits each. Johnson led the team with three RBIs, while Hays and Phillips added two.
 
Adams needed everyone tonight to get the win. Madisen Vrabel stepped in first for three innings, allowing three runs and only a pair earned. She walked only one batter, facing 14 and getting nine out. Whitney Field came in next for two and two-thirds inning, allowing three runs and walking two, but getting out seven batters in 14 faced. Schroeder came in the final inning and a third, striking out three and picking up her seventh win of the season.
 
Game one wasn't as fun for the Grizzlies, who allowed just four hits against the second-ranked team in Colorado Christian. CCU scored first in the third with a triple, then Phillips hit a double to bring home Riggins and tie it up. The defensive battle would continue, then a two-out double brought home the winning run. Schroeder dished out six strikeouts in the game, while CCU's Kenzie Mattley worked the Grizzlies with 13 strikeouts against 27 batters.