The NMHU Softball team split their first double header against the Cougars of Colorado Christian University, on Saturday, 3/10. The Cougars came back from a 2-0 first inning deficit to win game one by the final score of 9-4. In game two, the Cowgirls enjoyed a 5-2 lead in the second inning and went on to win the game 7-3. With the split of the first double header of the four game series against Colorado Christian University, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 8-4 record in the RMAC and 13-9 in overall play.
The Cowgirls got off to a good start in the first inning of game one.
Lynette Directo hit a two-run double to right-center field that scored
Brittany Potter and
Krista Mattice. The Cowgirls held the 2-0 lead until the bottom of the third inning when the Cougars got on the scoreboard. Colorado Christian scored two runs in the inning to tie the game up at two apiece. The Cougars took the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single up the middle.
The Cowgirls answered back in the top of the fifth with two runs of their own.
Shelby Watts hit a two-RBI double to right field that allowed
Lynette Directo and
Katie Kerr to score. The Cowgirls had the 4-3 lead but the Cougars would score more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Colorado Christian got three runs in the fifth off a base clearing double to right-center field with the bases loaded. After five innings the Cougars had the 6-4 lead.
The Cowgirls weren't able to get any hits in the sixth and the Cougars added more runs to their lead. The Cougars got a two-RBI triple to left-center field and then added another run with a sacrifice bunt that scored their runner on third base. The Cowgirls again went hitless in the top of the seventh inning and the Cougars were victorious in game one by the final score of 9-4.
Jenelle Klassen (6-2) was credited with the loss for the Cowgirls in game one. She threw five innings from the pitcher's circle for the Cowgirls and faced 29 batters. Klassen allowed nine runs on eight hits, but only four of her runs were earned. Klassen struck out five batters and walked three.
Erica Wieck came on in relieve for Klassen in the sixth inning. She threw one inning for the Cowgirls and faced four batters. Wieck didn't allow a hit or a run, and struck out one batter.
The Cowgirls' offense started game one with some runs but lost their momentum in the later innings. They combined for a .296 team batting average with four runs off of eight hits and had two doubles. The offensive leaders in game one for the Cowgirls were
Lynette Directo,
Krista Mattice, and
Shelby Watts. Directo went 1-2 at the plate with two RBIs, scored one run and hit a double. Mattice was 2-4 in the batter's box with a run scored. Watts went 1-4 at the plate with a two-RBI double in the fifth inning.
In game two, neither team was able to score in the first two innings of play. It was the Cowgirls who would strike first once again.
Lynette Directo got the Cowgirls on the scoreboard with a three-RBI triple to right field. The bases were loaded and Directo's hit allowed
Katie Kerr,
Brittany Potter, and
Devon Paiz to score. Directo then scored when
Halie Thompson hit a single up the middle. Thompson scored off of a single to left-center field by
Tess Oliphant. The Cougars were able to put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a two-RBI single up the middle. After three innings of play the Cowgirls had a 5-2 lead.
Again both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth inning
Lynette Directo struck again as she led off with a solo homerun over the right-field wall. The Cougars also added a run in the fifth inning, but the Cowgirls still held a three run lead, up 6-3. The Cowgirls added another run to the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning when
Brittany Potter hit a single up the middle scoring
Erica Wieck from third base. The Cowgirls would go on to shutdown the Cougars' offense in the next two at-bats. After a full seven innings of play the Cowgirls were victorious, 7-3.
Erica Wieck (5-7) was the winning pitcher in game two for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete seven innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 30 batters. Wieck pitched well for the Cowgirls, allowing three runs on three hits, and striking out five batters.
The Cowgirls' offense fared better in the second game of the day. They combined to hit .323 as a team, with seven runs on ten hits, one home run, and a stolen base.
Lynette Directo,
Halie Thompson, and
Brittany Potter were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in game two. Directo continued her impressive hitting from the second game. She went 2-4 at the plate, with four RBIs, two runs scored, one stolen base and a solo homerun. Thompson was also 2-4 from the batter's box and finished with an RBI and a run scored. Potter went 1-3 at the plate with one RBI, a run scored and drew a walk.
Lynette Directo had an impressive day at the plate for the Cowgirls. She finished Saturday's double header 3-6 at the plate, with six RBIs, three runs scored, a stolen base, a double and a solo homerun.
The NMHU Cowgirls will continue their four game series against Colorado Christian University in the second double header on Sunday, 3/11. The first game of Sunday's double header is scheduled to begin at 11 am, with game two to follow shortly after the completion of game one. If you can't make it up to Lakewood, Colo. to catch the Cowgirls in action, you can watch the Live Stats
HERE.
Click
HERE For Complete Game One Stats
Click
HERE For Complete Game Two Stats
GO COWGIRLS!!!
