By BRYAN VENOSDEL, Student Reporter
The Lady Rangers Softball started off their season with a busy schedule spanning three days with double-headers each day. Feb. 3 the softball team traveled to Lubbock, Texas where the Lady Chap Invitational was held to face off against Regis University in their first game.
Regis got on the board first with a single in the top of the second, but the Rangers were able to answer back and even things up in the bottom of the inning. With a go-ahead-run by Regis in the top of the fourth and another in the top of the fifth, the Lady Rangers were unable to answer back making it a 3-1 game. That was just the start for Regis however, as they capped off nine runs in the sixth inning alone, resulting in a 12-1 loss for the Rangers.
Game two for the Rangers was up against Colorado Christian University as the Lady Rangers were looking to take down the Cougars. The Rangers game was unfortunately riddled with errors, as Colorado was able to score twice in the bottom of the first after a dropped ball and a throwing error. The Rangers were able to get their own points on the board in the top of the third with a two-run hit to make the game even at 2-2. The Rangers were able to get to the sixth inning only giving up one point, but got six more dropped on them giving the Rangers a second loss of the day, 9-2.
The Rangers started off the first of two Saturday games against Lubbock Christian, with an early point, but was quickly answered back by LCU as they proceeded to drop five points. The Rangers were able to get one more run in before the Lady Chaps dropped six more runs in the bottom of the second, leaving the game at 15-2. The second game of the day pitted the Rangers against Regis University, with the Rangers coming out the gates hot with a 3-0 lead in the top of the second but Regis was able to get the points back in the bottom of the inning.
The Rangers would go on to score again in the fourth but Regis held their own with the Rangers throughout the game with Regis scoring in the bottom of the seventh and eighth inning, giving Regis the 7-6 win.
Sunday the Rangers started off their day facing off against Lubbock Christian, with Lubbock getting a hot hand, scoring in the bottom of the first and putting up 13 runs alone in the bottom of the second. The Rangers remained scoreless until the top of the fourth and started gaining momentum going into the fifth inning getting three more runs, but it wasn’t enough to get a victory, with LCU coming away with the win 14-4.
The next and final game of the series had the Rangers looking for the win against Colorado Christian. CCU started their scoring in the top of the second and even getting two more runs in the top of the fourth, but that didn’t faze the Rangers whatsoever as they had an astounding 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth, demoralizing the Cougars. The Rangers topped off the secured victory by getting two more runs in the bottom of the fifth giving the Rangers the first win of the Lady Chap Invitational 13-5.