CHADRON, Neb. -- Winter weather caused about two-thirds of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball games to be cancelled last weekend.  Just 10 of the 25 games on the schedule were played.

The Chadron State team felt the sting of the snowed-out games as much as any of the teams.  After having played just four of their first 35 games at home, the Eagles were looking forward to hosting New Mexico Highlands, which is just 5-15 in the conference.  It appeared to be a good opportunity for CSC to strengthen its grip on a playoff berth.

Although Chadron received a few inches of snow last week, CSC coach Rob Stack said the field had been covered with the flakes fell and was in good shape both Saturday and Sunday.  However, the Highlands coaches, reporting transportation issues, cancelled the trip on Friday.

"We could have played without a problem, but we can't do anything about it and just have to keep looking ahead," Stack noted. 

Chadron State is 12-8 and in third place in the conference standings.  It's among the Eagles' best record ever through the end of March.  Two years ago they were 11-7 in the RMAC when the month ended.   CSC went 12-4 in conference in April and finished the regular season with a 23-11 RMAC record.  

Each of the next five teams in the top eight in the conference standings this year is no more than three games behind CSC.   

It helps the Eagles' status that the No. 9 team in the standings, Fort Lewis, which is slated to visit Chadron this weekend for four games, is 7-13, five games back.  The top eight teams advance to the playoffs.

Colorado Mesa, which has won 17 games in a row, has a huge lead with a 21-1 conference record.  Metro State is next at 16-4, followed by CSC. UCCS in fourth place at 13-10. 

The Mountain Lions were able to play all four of their games last weekend, going 2-2. They are due to visit the Eagles on April 23-24.

Before that happens, the Eagles are to play at Black Hills State on April 9 and 10 and host Colorado Mines on the 16th and 17th.

"We could probably qualify for the tournament by winning half of our remaining (16) games," Stack said.  "But I hope we do a lot better than that."

The Eagles have both hit and pitched the ball well this spring. The team has a .307 batting average, has scored 176 runs, 19 more than the opposition, and has 431 total bases, 15 more than the foes.

Leadoff hitter Courtney Lecher has the highest batting average at .388.  She has 47 hits in 121 at bats and also has walked 12 times and struck out just four. She leads the way in runs scored with 25 and also has 21 runs batted in, second high on the team.

Seven other Eagles are hitting at least .284.  Freshman Kayla Michel has the second highest average at .344 and has six homers among her 22 hits, helping her to own a team-best .672 slugging percentage.

Left-handed hitting Lindsey Karlin ranks third with a .337 average.

After that, Aspen Eubanks is hitting .310, Zoe Humphries is at an even .300 and Katelyn Krueger has a .299 average and has walked a team-high 15 times and driven in 24 runs, the most in the lineup.

Both Shea Graham and Bekka Prokaski have .293 averages and Taylor Bauer is hitting .284.

Seniors Tayler Hall and Cierra Cosslett have done most of the pitching.  Hall has a 9-2 record and a 3.28 earned run average while Cosslett is 6-7 and has a .3.65 ERA.

As usual, this weekend's games with Fort Lewis will start at noon on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.  Double-headers are set for both dates.