The NMHU Softball team got off to an impressive start to the 2012 RMAC regular season by winning both games of their first double header against the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines. The Orediggers were ranked first in the 2012 RMAC Coaches' Preseason Poll, but the Cowgirls made a statement at Brandt Field in both games, on 2/25. The Cowgirls got off to a great start in game one, eventually winning the game 5-4 with a clutch seventh inning performance. The Cowgirls then continued their impressive performance in game two, behind the pitching of
Erica Wieck, to take game two by the final score of 4-0. With the sweep of the first double header of the series against the Orediggers, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 2-0 record in the RMAC and 7-5 in overall play.
In game one of Saturday's double header against the Orediggers, the Cowgirls got started early and took control of the series.
Jessica Brink got the start for the Cowgirls and was throwing well from the pitcher's circle. She struck out one batter in the first inning while allowing no hits. In the second inning Brink stepped her game up and struck out the side. The Cowgirls offense got into the action in the bottom of the second inning by scoring three runs on two hits. In the second,
Tess Oliphant hit an RBI double to left-center field that scored
Lynette Directo from second base. Then
Molly McDougall stepped up to the plate and drove a ball to deep left-center field that soared over the fence for a two-run homerun. After the two innings the Cowgirls had a 3-0 lead. The Orediggers finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning off of an RBI double down the left field line that scored the runner on first base. The Cowgirls also scored in the fifth inning, off of a sacrifice fly to deep right field by
Katie Kerr that scored
Erica Wieck from third base. The Cowgirls' bats were lively in the fifth inning as they managed four hits in the inning, but ended up leaving the bases loaded and only came away with the one run. The Orediggers closed the distance on the scoreboard again in the sixth inning as they scored two runs in the inning off of one hit. After the Cowgirls went down without a run in the bottom of the sixth, they still had the lead 4-3. The Orediggers tied the game up in the top of the seventh inning off a sacrifice bunt that scored the runner from third base. With the game tied up at four runs apiece, it was time for the Cowgirls to look for some clutch performances from their offense. With runners on first and second and two outs,
Roxanne Avalos stepped to the plate and offered up some offensive magic for the Cowgirls. Roxy Avalos ripped an RBI single to left-center field that scored
Devon Paiz from second base and the Cowgirls had won their first RMAC game of the season with style.
Jessica Brink started the game in the pitcher's circle for the Cowgirls. She had a good game for the Cowgirls in her five and a third innings pitched. Brink faced 25 batters, struck out six, walked three and allowed three runs off of three hits.
Erica Wieck (2-5) was credited with the win for the Cowgirls in her relief appearance. She threw one and two-thirds innings from the pitcher's circle and faced eight batters. Although Wieck came into the game with a one run lead, the Orediggers were able to get the tying run off of her in the seventh inning. Wieck regained her composure and only allowed that one run off of two hits to the Orediggers, while striking out one batter to get the victory.
The Cowgirls' offense played well in game one of the double header against the Orediggers. They combined to hit for a .393 team batting average, and scored five runs off of 11 hits, with one homerun and a double.
Roxanne Avalos,
Molly McDougall, and
Katie Kerr were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in the game. Avalos was an impressive 3-4 at the plate and ended up with the game winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. McDougall was 1-3 from the batter's box. She hit a two-run homerun in the second inning, and finished with two RBIs and a run scored. Kerr finished 2-3 at the plate with an RBI off of a sacrifice fly.
The Cowgirls were prepared to continue their success in game two of Saturday's double header against the Orediggers.
Erica Wieck started the game from the pitcher's circle in game two, and started where she left off from the end of game one. Wieck struck out the first Orediggers' batter and then commenced to retiring the side. The Cowgirls managed two base runners from no hits in the bottom of the first but weren't able to convert that into any runs. Wieck retired the side again in the top of the second inning, while again striking out one batter and allowing one walk. The Cowgirls struck first in the bottom of the second inning.
Alisha Perry hit an RBI single to right-center field that drove in
Roxanne Avalos from second base. The Cowgirls managed one run off of two hits and left three runners on base in the inning. The Orediggers got their first hit off of Wieck in the third inning but didn't manage any more than that. Wieck allowed another baserunner in the fourth off of a walk, but once again she shut down the Orediggers' offense. The Cowgirls did yet more damage to the Orediggers in the bottom of the fourth inning. They scored three runs off of four hits in the inning.
Brittany Potter hit a two-RBI double through the left side of the infield that scored both
Erica Wieck and
Alisha Perry. Then
Katie Kerr followed Potter at the plate and hit an RBI single through the left-side of the infield that allowed Potter to score from second base. After four innings of play, the Cowgirls had the 4-0 lead.
Erica Wieck continued to baffle the Orediggers' offense and it wasn't until the top of the sixth inning that the Orediggers were able to get their second hit of the game. The Orediggers looked to be a threat to score in the sixth inning, with two base runners off of their hit and a fielding error, but Wieck calmly ended the inning with no damage to the scoreboard. Wieck then finished the game in the top of the seventh inning. She walked one batter but the Orediggers couldn't get anything going against her performance from the pitcher's circle. When
Alisha Perry had grabbed the last fly out to right field the Cowgirls had won their second game of the new RMAC season by the score of 4-0, and
Erica Wieck had just thrown a two-hit complete-game shutout.
Erica Wieck (3-5) was simply outstanding from the pitcher's circle in game two for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete seven innings and faced 29 batters. Wieck struck out five batters, walked four, and allowed no runs off of only two hits. Wieck was impressive for the Cowgirls in her two-hit shutout performance and captured her second win of the day.
The Cowgirls' offense played well in game two of the Saturday's double header. They combined for a .333 team batting average, with four runs off of nine hits and ended up with two doubles.
Brittany Potter,
Katie Kerr, and
Alisha Perry were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in game two. Potter was 1-3 from the batter's box, with two RBIs, one run scored and a double. Kerr went 2-4 at the plate with an RBI. Perry hit was 2-3 from the batter's box, with an RBI and a run scored.
Overall the Cowgirls played an impressive first double header in the start to the RMAC regular season.
Erica Wieck had a great day from the pitcher's circle, ending up with two wins and a complete game shutout. The Cowgirls offense showed that they could work together as a team to manufacture runs when the game was on the line. The Cowgirls' seventh inning performance in game one was a delight to watch, as they buckled down and found a way to win. The Cowgirls are beginning to look quite impressive as a team and start out the RMAC season 2-0 against a tough opponent in the Colorado School of Mines.
The NMHU Cowgirls will continue conference action, on 2/26, as they host the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines for the second double header of the four game series. The Orediggers were picked to finish first in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. They are currently in ninth place in the RMAC with a 0-2 conference record and 3-10 in overall play. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 am with the second game of the double header to follow shortly after the completion of game one. Come on out to Brandt Field to catch the Cowgirls in action.
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HERE For Complete Game One Stats
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HERE For Complete Game Two Stats
GO COWGIRLS!!!
