LUBBOCK, Texas -- February 9, 2020 -- Chadron State College softball split a pair of games for the third consecutive day on Sunday, moving to 3-3 with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Southern Nazarene University in the morning, followed by a 15-6 non-conference triumph over the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in the afternoon.

Against SNU, the Eagles out-batted the Crimson Storm five hits to four, but patience and timeliness paid off for the winners, whose go-ahead run was placed on second base in the eighth inning, according to international tiebreaker rules.

The Storm led 2-0 after the second inning, owing their lead to three bases on balls, two sacrifices, and one fielder's choice.

CSC took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on hits by Sloane Quijas, Mackenzi Kroll, and Angelica Maples, with a sacrifice bunt by Alyx Gragg.

A solo homer in SNU's fifth turn at-bat sent the game into extra innings, where the Storm's timely third hit of the game brought in the winning run. CSC was unable to capitalize on the free runner in the bottom of the inning.

CSC's DeAnna Barrera gave up six total walks while suffering her first loss of the season, falling to 2-1. Nazarene pitcher Brooklyn Sparkman earned her first decisioni of the year.

In the UCCS game, the Eagles fared much better in the batter's box, helping junior Tia Kohl (1-2) to her first win of the season. Their 17 base hits included Kroll's third, and Maples' fourth, round-trippers of the weekend, while Kroll, Quijas, and senior Ellie Owens each recorded doubles.

UCCS did most of its scoring in the first inning, after which it led 4-3, however the Eagles came back with three more scores in the second, and six in the third, aided by a couple of Mountain Lion errors.

After three, the Eagles led 12-6, and added one more run in the fourth and two in the fifth to pass the threshold for the five-inning run rule.

On the day, Kroll and Maples both went 4-for-7 with a homer each. That pair, plus sophomore Bailey Marvel and junior Alyx Gragg, all started the year off with .400 or better averages, through six games.

"We're really proud of how our ladies played this weekend," said CSC Head Softball Coach Kaley Ness. "We saw many great things from our team, and we're excited to make the necessary adjustments and continue to work to get better this week, in preparation for our upcoming tournament in Oklahoma."

The Eagles play in another tourney down south next weekend, when they visit Oklahoma for an event co-hosted by Oklahoma Christian University and Central Oklahoma University.