CHADRON, Neb. – Tori Haug and Kenzi Garner combined to shut out Fort Lewis on the day, Sophia Brennan hit two home runs and Lauren Zimmerman drove home three to tie the program's career RBI record as Chadron State defeated Fort Lewis 8-0 and 2-0 in the first two games of a four-game series Saturday from Chadron. 

The Eagles got the bats working in game one, as CSC hit three home runs and had three players drive in multiple runs to end it in five innings. Then, Chadron State survived a strong pitching performance from FLC's Chloe Padilla, scoring two unearned runs and relying on a seven-inning shutout from Garner to secure the Saturday sweep. 

Lauren Zimmerman, who entered Saturday's action needing three RBI to tie and four RBI to break the career program record of 139 set by alum Allison Hendricksen (2007-2010), did enough on the day to pull dead even with Hendricksen. Zimmerman ripped a two-run double into the right-center gap in her first at-bat, then added a sacrifice fly in game two. 

The two wins pull Chadron State's record up to 16-24 overall and 12-22 in the RMAC. Fort Lewis falls to 8-30 with a 7-26 RMAC record. 

The Eagles had their foot on the gas early and often in the series opener. Aliyah Rothstein singled and Jazlyn Arvizo walked to lead off the game before Zimmerman scored them both by lacing a line-drive double to the opposite field. Chadron State added on in the second when Sophia Brennan crushed a leadoff solo homer to left center.

The ball would continue to leave the yard for Chadron State in the third inning. After the first two hitters were retired, J'lyssa Martinez smashed a solo shot, her third of the season. Brogan Allen extended the inning with a single to bring up Brennan, who went to nearly an identical spot over the wall in left center to make it 6-0, Eagles. 

The two home runs for Brennan are the CSC catcher's second multi-home run game in the last three weeks and give Brennan six total home runs on the year, tying Ashland Baca for second on the team. 

Meanwhile, senior Tori Haug was cruising in the circle. Haug only allowed three baserunners, giving up solitary singles to Faith Sgro and Alyssa Fockler and a walk to Cali Niccum, while striking out five batters. 

Haug's dominance gave the Eagles a chance to end it in five innings if they could reach the eight-run margin required for the run rule. The Eagles obliged, with Ashland Baca and Martinez hitting back-to-back singles and a wild pitch moving Martinez and pinch-runner Sydney Loyet up to second and third. Allen ended it with a crisp base hit up the middle, scoring both runners and giving CSC an 8-0 victory.

Game two was a pitcher's duel. Chloe Padilla excelled in the circle for Fort Lewis, striking out 10 Eagles on the day, including the first six outs of the game. It was Fort Lewis's defense that aided Chadron State in the only scoring inning of the game, the bottom of the third. 

Angelina Quezada led off with a single before an attempted sacrifice bunt by Elizabeth Thorngren turned into a Skyhawks throwing error that let Quezada come all the way around to score. 

Aliyah Rothstein and Jazlyn Arvizo then both bunted and reached base, with Rothstein beating out a single and Arvizo reaching on a fielder's choice when FLC tried to back pick Thorngren at third unsuccessfully. With the bases loaded, Lauren Zimmerman lifted a fly ball to right for a sacrifice fly and a second unearned run with Thorngren scoring. 

That was all the run support Kenzi Garner needed. The senior turned in a masterpiece, throwing seven shutout innings allowing just three hits with no walks and six strikeouts, which set a season-high and matched a career-high for the Colorado native. Garner retired the final 10 batters of the game. 

Chadron State and Fort Lewis will conclude their four-game series on Sunday with two more games. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.