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Kaitlin Gentert, #22, pitcher and outfielder for the Lady Rangers, pulls a fast ball against Mines on day two of the Mile High Invitational.

Late inning heroics lift Rangers to a sweep during Mile High Invitational

By: Katie Simons, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Posted: 3/11/08

On day two of the Mile High Invitational, the Regis University softball team's bats came alive as they combined to score 22 runs in two games. After falling behind early to both University of Mary and Colorado School of Mines, the Rangers were clutch in the bottom of the seventh.

In game one against Mary the Rangers overcame a 6-0 deficit after the first inning scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the 13-12 win. Against Mines Regis fell behind 6-2 and scored seven runs in the final two innings including five in the bottom of the seventh to squeak out the 9-8 victory.

Bianca Holley (Fr., Arvada, Colo.) started game one on the mound and after a tough first inning settled in allowing just one run over the next three innings. This allowed the Rangers to slowly chip away at the Marauders early lead.

RU got one run a piece in the first and second innings. Alisa Heronema (Fr., Berthoud, Colo.) led off with a triple in the first. Christine Gardella's (Sr., Arvada, Colo.) ground ball scored Heronema to give the Rangers their first run.

Maureen McDaniel (So., Fort Collins, Colo.) and Amber Sivetts (Sr., Lakewood, Colo.) led off the second with back-to-back singles. Emily Anderson (Fr., Florissant, Mo.) grounded out on a double play but with McDaniel on third she came in to score and the Rangers were down 6-2.

RU found their stride in the third and fourth innings scoring three runs a piece in each. A Jacki Martinez (Jr., Arvada, Colo.) RBI single scored Gardella. Then Chelsie Rademacher (Sr., Frederick, Colo.) capped off the inning with a two-run shot, her fourth of the season.

The Rangers found themselves down 6-5 heading into the top of the fourth when Mary answered with a run increasing their lead to two runs. But in the bottom of the fourth the Rangers took the lead for the first time.

After Anderson was hit by a pitch and Amber Aragon-Autobee (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.) drew a walk Heronema loaded the bases with a single and just one out. Gardella then hit a deep double to center field clearing the bases and giving RU the lead at 8-7.

The Marauders took back the lead in the top of the fifth with three runs but the Rangers rallied in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 10-10. A Jamie Winsor (Fr., Fort Collins, Colo.) double and a Gardella singled tied the game.

Mary then took the lead in the top of the seventh with a two run home run taking back the lead at 12-10. After two quick outs and with Sivetts on first in seemed as though the Rangers luck had run out.

Then RU came up big as Aragon-Autobee drew a walk and Heronema singled to load the bases. Gardella followed with a singled that brought in both Aragon-Autobee and Sivetts. Heronema used her speed to score the third and final run advancing from first to third on the throw and was safe at home when the catcher dropped the ball.

In game two the Rangers fell behind once again. RU added a run in both the second and third innings. As Martinez led off the second with a home run, her first of the season and doubled in the third scoring Heronema. This put the score at 6-2.

Neither team scored in the fourth while Mines added a run in the fifth and the sixth. Then the Rangers made their push beginning in the bottom of the sixth as they outscored the Orediggers 7-1 in the final two innings.

Rademacher and McDaniel led off the inning with doubles as McDaniel scored the first run in the sixth. Following two outs Holley pinch hit smacking an RBI single up the middle but the Rangers were still down 8-4.

Gentert shutout Mines in the top of the seventh striking out two batters then Winsor and Martinez led off the bottom of the seventh with singles. Unfortunately a pop fly and a strike out put RU in a tough spot with two outs. A passed ball allowed both Winsor and Martinez to advance and an single by Sivetts brought both in to score. Anderson then singled up the middle to load the bases for Heronema. Once again Heronema was clutch as she hit a triple to right field, her second of the day and third of the season, scoring all three runners and giving the Rangers the 9-8 win.

Heronema had a monster day as she was 8-for-10 scoring five runs with a double, two triples and three RBIs. Martinez was 5-for-8 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Gardella finished the day with seven RBIs and a double as she was 4-for-8.

The Rangers finished with a 2-2 record in the Mile High Invitational. UC-Colorado Springs was 4-1 and the tournament champion.