DENVER – The Regis Rangers put up crooked numbers in the fifth inning of both games against Chadron State, coming from behind twice to defeat the Eagles 6-5 and 6-4 on Thursday in the first two games of a four-game series between the two programs.
Chadron State (4-31, 4-22 RMAC) gave up leads of 5-2 in the first game and 4-2 in the second game to Regis (10-22, 9-17 RMAC), who has now won four of its last six games. The hosts tied game one with a three-run fifth inning and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth, then turned a two-run deficit to a two-run lead with a four-run fifth inning in game two.
Brogan Allen, who homered twice in last weekend's series against Colorado Christian, continued her hot streak at the plate for Chadron State. Allen went 3-for-6 across the doubleheader, collecting two RBI doubles in game one before leaving the yard again with a three-run homer in game two, her fourth of the season.
Regis found a hero in the pitching circle in the form of Vanessa Candito. The senior entered the day with a 6.61 ERA and only three relief appearances compared to seven starts in 2026, but came out of the bullpen twice on Thursday and combined to hold the Eagles to just two hits in 8.2 innings across both games while earning two wins in relief.
Chadron State's offense came ready to play, scoring multiple runs in the first inning of both of Thursday's contests, but the Eagle bats cooled in the later innings.
Belle Akins and
Brynn Trujillo handled most of the pitching duties, each allowing six runs, although only four of Trujillo's were earned.
McKenna Sides pitched a scoreless inning of relief in game one.
The Eagles took advantage of a leadoff Regis error to take an early lead in the opener. After
Charley Pitrat ended up on second due to the error,
Elizabeth Thorngren bunted her to third and
Lani Davis walked. Allen doubled home Pitrat, advancing Davis to third where she scored on a
Brianna Cordray sac fly to give CSC a 2-0 lead.
Chadron State added on with singular runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Rangers gifted CSC a run when
Elizabeth Thorngren walked, stole second and advanced all the way home on a throwing error. The Eagles tallied earned runs in the next two innings with a clutch two-out RBI single from
Katelynn Czerpak in the fourth before Allen doubled home Cordray from first base with two outs in the fifth.
Regis rallied in the fifth, starting with three consecutive singles to score a run and a walk to re-load the bases. A groundout scored a second run to make it 5-4 before a bunt single brought home the tying run. The Rangers took the lead in the next inning on a pair of doubles while Chadron State went down in order in both the sixth and seventh.
In game two, Chadron State got off to an explosive start as Pitrat and Thorngren drew first-inning leadoff walks, setting the stage for Allen's three-run homer to give the Eagles an instant cushion. Regis chipped away, however, scoring two in the bottom half of the inning and scoring four in the fifth by stringing singles together alongside an ill-timed CSC throwing error.
Regis aggressively pulled its game two starter after Allen's homer just four batters into the game in favor of Candito. The move paid off as the Eagles only managed two hits the rest of the game. Chadron State's only run after the first inning scored when, with two outs and a runner on third,
Elia DeLozier dropped down a surprise bunt and Candito threw the ball away, allowing Cordray to score.
Chadron State will look to get back in the win column with two more games against Regis on Friday. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11 a.m.
