Two ups, two downers.

After winning twice against the Colorado School of Mines on Sunday to begin their home schedule, the Skyhawks softball team dropped both in Monday's windy doubleheader at Aspen Field.

On Sunday, Fort Lewis (7-7 overall, 4-4 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) exhibited mental strength that belied its youthful lineup, winning twice in come-from-behind fashion.

On Monday, the youth showed through costly errors and untimely hitting in 8-2, 4-1 losses to the Orediggers (14-9 overall, 6-2 RMAC).

The early game was scoreless with two outs in the top of the sixth, with freshman Skyhawk Alyssa Rahm (5-3) hurling a no-hitter.

But Rahm, who earned a win and a save in Sunday's action, suddenly lost her mystery to the Orediggers, who plated six before FLC recorded the final out.

Only two of the runs were earned.

Taylor Cayou singled to shortstop, Kaleigh Starr singled through the left side of the infield, Margie Cone singled to shortstop, and then center fielder Ashley Conser dropped a Sarah Van Lingen fly ball to allow Starr and Cayou to score and open the floodgates.

Katie Kocman followed with an RBI single, Jackye Lagen hit an RBI double to left center, Kocman scored on a wild pitch, and Dani Murphy reached on an error by FLC first baseman Ashley Hibbs that scored Lagen before Allysia Cisneros finally grounded out in her second at-bat of the inning.

After 2-run homer from Starr in the top of the seventh, the Skyhawks faced an 8-0 deficit going into the bottom half.

Stevie Benedict got an RBI single, and Denae Benally knocked an RBI double, but it was too little, too late.

"They did a great job of keeping us off balance," Adams said of the Mines pitchers. "They're good pitchers. They move the ball around, change speeds and hit their spots."

In the second game, FLC struggled to figure out Cayou, who held the Skyhawks scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Amber Massey drove in Benally on an RBI single down the left-field line.

Catcher Van Lingen had three RBIs on a single and two sacrifice flies for the Orediggers, who outhit Fort Lewis 10-4. Starr also scored three runs.

"We made a few mistakes," Adams said. "It always stinks to lose, but overall we had a pretty good weekend. When you can split with the conference best, you can't be too disappointed with that."

FLC next plays at home in a doubleheader against Mesa State on Thursday.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com