Fort Lewis College bounced back after being swept by Western New Mexico University on Saturday, returning the favor Sunday at WNMU.
The Skyhawks (8-11, 6-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) won the first game 17-8, and Kiley Raica pitched the Skyhawks to their first shutout win of the season, 9-0, in five innings in the second game.
“This was a good way to finish the weekend with two wins,” FLC head coach Kira Zeiter said. “We played well in all aspects of our wins today (Sunday), and we’re ready to take that momentum into the games next weekend.”
In the first game, the Skyhawks opened the scoring with two runs in the third inning. Tristen Gilbert singled to right field to drive in Adriana Rosthenhausler and Mandy Owens hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Myndee Thompson.
FLC took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth before WNMU scored in the bottom of the inning.
The Mustangs (10-13, 7-5 RMAC) committed four errors in the fourth inning that led to two FLC runs. After reaching base on a fielding error, Denae Fisher scored on Jeovanna Rios’ sacrifice fly. Missy Fundora, who reached first base on a throwing error, also scored on a Mustangs fielding error.
In the fifth inning, Fisher singled to right field to score Owens, and FLC added three more runs in the sixth inning. Rios accounted for two when she hit a two-run homer to center field that also scored Thompson. Gilbert followed with a solo home run, her third homer of the season.
The Skyhawks then put the game away in the top of the seventh, scoring nine runs on 10 hits. Thompson singled to left field to score Fisher. Rios then hit her second home run of the game to score Thompson and Fundora. Gilbert singled up the middle and scored on a Mustangs fielding error. And, after a pitching change, Lauren Caldwell singled to score Owens. Fundora drove in two more home on a double to left field, scoring Fisher and Nikki Klepfer. Amanda Gonzales entered the game to pinch hit for Rosthenhausler and singled up the middle to drive home Fundora for the ninth run of the inning.
Fort Lewis out-hit WNMU 22-10 in the game and also benefitted from seven Mustang errors. Thompson and Caldwell each had four hits and Fundora and Gilbert three apiece. Rios, Owens and Fisher added two hits each as seven Skyhawks had multiple hits. Rios also knocked in six runs.
Victoria Johnson earned her fifth win.
In the series finale, Raica pitched all five innings, allowing only four hits and fanning one. Rios went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Gilbert and Owens each knocked in two runs and scored two runs.
FLC is at home the next two weekends, beginning Saturday and Sunday against Chadron State College.
