CHADRON, Neb. -- March 2, 2018 -- Chadron State College softball won its home opener in style Friday, showing some rejuvenation on offense by batting .458 (11-for-24) in a 10-2 run-shortened victory over visiting New Mexico Highlands University in five innings.

The second game scheduled for Friday was postponed after copious amounts of rapidly melting snow turned field conditions unplayable by the conclusion of game one. Play is expected to resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday and continue until three additional games are complete.

CSC pitcher Jessica Jarecki notched eight strikeouts, four of which comprised the first four outs of the game, holding the Cowgirls to .227 in the batter's box.

The Eagles exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second inning, thanks in large part to a two-run home run by Angelica Maples with no outs. The homer followed a two-RBI single by Leilani Niccum and the game-winning RBI by Kendyl Moody.

NMHU got two runs back in the fourth, when the Cowgirls got three of their five base hits in the game. One of those was a two-run blast by Brooklynn DeLozier to right field, which was helped by an eastward wind upwards of 20 miles per hour.

Chadron State's remaining four runs came on back to back homers by Ellie Owens and Julia Elbert in the bottom of the fourth. Owens's was a three-run shot, plating Aspen Eubanks and Francine Boston, while Elbert's was solo.

Owens and Niccum each finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Kayla Michel batted 2-for-2 with one walk.

Desiree Bogarin took the loss for the Cowgirls in the circle, giving up six runs, all earned, in the second. Isabella Scarale came in at the bottom of the third in relief, giving up the four earned runs in the fourth. Each pitcher hurled two complete innings.

CSC improved to 3-12, and 1-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while NMHU fell to 2-10 (0-5 RMAC).