The Chadron State College softball team drove in 15 runs in a 15-6 win over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Colorado Mesa University. CSC fell short in a rainy seventh inning rally against Metro State University in the second game, losing 9-7. Chadron State fell out of conference contention with the loss, finishing its season 10thin the RMAC.
Katelyn Kruger closed out Colorado Mesa’s chances of winning the RMAC regular season title when she slammed a grand slam in the first inning to take an early 6-0 lead. The next batter, Shea Graham, pushed the lead farther with a solo home run.
The damage wasn’t done though, as Jessica Eatmon hit a solo home run in the second inning to take an 8-0 lead. Mesa scored two and three runs in the third and fourth innings, respectfully, to bring the score to 8-5. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Zoe Humphries smashed a three-run home run to bring the Eagles into double digits at 11-5. CSC would score another run in the fifth following a wild pitch.
In the sixth inning, CMU scored on a passed ball to try and keep the game alive, but Eatmon hit her second solo home run of the game to keep the lead at seven runs. Three batters later, Kruger came to the plate and bombed a walk-off two-run home run as the Eagles won 15-6.
Kruger had six RBIs in the game, while Eatmon was a perfect three for three, scoring four runs and three RBIs.
In the second for the Eagles, CSC’s Courtney Lecher answered MSU’s early score with a leadoff home run, tying the game at one apiece. Metro State would score three more runs in to take a 4-1 lead before the duo of Kruger and Eatmon hit back-to-back solo home runs to bring the game within a score.
The Eagles surrendered five runs as the Roadrunners looked to close out a long game with a commanding 9-3 lead in the seventh inning. With the wind picking up and rain coming down, Kruger answered with a three-run home run, her fourth of the day. Two batters later, Zoe Humphries hit a solo home run that bounced off of the left field foul marker, keeping the Eagles’ hopes alive. CSC end up falling just short, losing 9-7.
Kruger stole the show in the final day, hitting .750 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. Kruger finished the season with 13 home runs, tied for first in the conference with only CCU’s Sarah Rasmussen with a game left to play. She is also currently tied for the conference lead in slugging percentage with Adam State’s Marissa Harmon, who faces Colorado Christian in two game tomorrow.
Also for CSC, Humphries is tied for fifth in the conference with 12 home runs.
CSC pitcher Tayler Hall closes out her season with 161 strikeouts, currently 23 more than anyone else in the conference.
(Courtesy: Shaun Wicen, CSC Sports Information)