CHADRON – The Chadron State College softball team shook off a disappointing defensive performance in its first game home game of the season Saturday by rebounding to split a doubleheader with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
The Eagles committed five errors resulting in 10 unearned runs in a 12-2 loss, but bounced in the second game with a 5-0 victory…the second straight shutout by Kylee Polsley.
In the first game, UCCS put the first 6 batters on base with an error, 2 singles, and 3 walks…scoring 3 runs. CSC pitcher Aryn Grywusiewicz looked to get out of the inning with no more damage with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundball, but a throwing error on the groundball brought in 2 more runs and a single capped a 6-run top of the first.
The Eagles managed just 4 hits in the contest off pitcher Becca Smith, who struck out 9, and got their only runs in the 5th on a 2-run homer down the left field line by Danielle L’Argent that brought in Ashlynn Marino.
The second game was an entirely different matter as Polsley dominated the Mountain Lion hitters after an adventurous opening inning.
Payton Kornfeind led off with an infield single and stole second, but was thrown out at 3rd by catcher Ashlynn Marino. The next hitter, Jourdan Hitchings, doubled, but after Polsley got a strikeout was thrown out home by centerfielder Rebecca Wetsch while trying to score on a single.
That would be the last scoring chance for UCCS as Polsley gave up just 2 hits and 2 walks over the remaining 6 innings, and the only time the Mountain Lions put 2 runners on base the Eagles turned in their only double play…a rare 6-3-5 twin killing with the first out at 1st and the second out at 3rd.
Offensively, CSC squeezed out a run in the bottom of the 1st as Nikki Ritzen led off with a single, took 2nd on an error, and scored on a single by Katie Londo.The game stayed 1-0 until the 6th when the Eagles scored 4 unearned insurance runs…bunching together 2 errors and 3 hits, the big blow being a 2-out bloop single to right field by Taylor Cobb that plated the final 2 runs.
The Eagles, now 4-7 overall and 3-3 in the RMAC, host UCCS (9-5-1, 4-1 RMAC) in another doubleheader Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.