Written By: Durango Herald Sports Staff
April 18, 2010. Grand Junction, CO. - It's been a rough couple of weeks for the Fort Lewis College softball team, and Saturday's doubleheader in Grand Junction against Colorado School of Mines turned out to be anything but a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Orediggers took Game 1 4-0 behind four unearned runs, and three 11th-inning errors proved costly for the Skyhawks in Game 2, which the Orediggers took 5-2, extending the FLC losing streak to six games.
In the second contest, home-team Fort Lewis threatened with runners in scoring position in every inning from the seventh inning through game's end. Lack of timely hitting has plagued the team throughout the streak, FLC head coach Pam Adams said.
“When you have runners in scoring position most of the day … we did not get a key hit at that time, like a two-out hit," Adams said. “We're getting some hits, just not in big situations."
The Skyhawks (13-21 overall, 12-19 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) got one such hit while tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th in the second game, then were undone by a stellar defensive effort.
Brooke Bails singled softly to short right center, and Jordan Willis tried to score to end the streak. But with what Adams called an “unbelievable perfect throw," the Orediggers' Kaleigh Starr fired home, cutting down the run and providing the momentum for Mines' three-run 11th inning.
Jayme Fuller was the tough-luck losing pitcher for FLC in Game 2, tossing all 11 frames while allowing eight hits and five runs, but thanks to four Skyhawk errors, just one run was earned.
The story was similar for FLC starter Kassie Haubert in Game 1. All four runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning, and all four were unearned.
“We had great pitching (Saturday)," Adams said. “We didn't take care of business hitting, and we sure didn't do much better on defense."
Only three Skyhawks had hits against Mines (19-20, 15-15 RMAC) in the first contest. Amanda Willmon went 2-for-4, Bails was a perfect 3-for-3, and Chelena Coulston added a hit off of winning pitcher Libby Balogh.
The poor defense and suspect hitting will need to come around today, when FLC plays the home team again against UC-Colorado Springs in Grand Junction.
“We're in a situation where our defense can make great plays," Adams said. “We just have to keep the mentality going of expecting every ball to come to you, planting and throwing."
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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