ALAMOSA, Colo. – Chadron State softball played two of its final four games on Friday afternoon against Adams State, losing 7-6 in eight-inning, walk-off fashion in the opener and dropping game two 6-4 from Alamosa.
The results mean a guaranteed 12
th-place finish in the RMAC standings for Chadron State (6-45, 6-36 RMAC). Adams State improved to 12-40 overall and 11-31 in the RMAC.
In game one, the Eagles trailed 4-1 and 6-4, but rallied to tie the score both times before ASU won it with Aubree Davis's walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning. The loss dropped CSC to 2-2 in extra-inning games this season.
In the second game, the Eagles struck first and led 2-0 before a pair of three-run innings gave Adams State a 6-2 advantage. Chadron State scored single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn't overcome the entire deficit.
Elizabeth Thorngren was a force in the middle of the CSC lineup. The senior batted 4-for-8 on the day and racked up a double, two triples, four RBI and two runs scored.
The two triples, Thorngren's first of the season, tie her for the team lead with
Macie Selfors. As a team, Chadron State had only hit three triples all season prior to Thorngren's pair on Friday.
Also offensively,
Charley Pitrat had a three-hit game in the opener while
Brianna Cordray smacked two doubles in game two. In the circle,
Brynn Trujillo was impressive in relief, striking out four while not allowing a baserunner in 1.2 innings pitched.
Belle Akins (7.1 IP, 5 ER, 5 BB, 5 K) and
McKenna Sides (4.1 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) were CSC's starting pitchers on Friday. Both pitchers conceded two unearned runs in addition to their earned runs as the Eagles combined for five errors across the two days.
Chadron State fell behind 4-1 after three innings, scoring on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Pitrat in the second inning. Adams State scored at least once in each of its first four trips to the plate against Akins.
The Eagles tied it in the top of the fourth, all with two outs. Pitrat grounded to the left side and beat out the throw after the third baseman made a diving stop, moving Czerpak to third.
Macie Selfors fought off an 0-2 pitch to left field to score a run before Thorngren swung at the first pitch and lined an opposite-field triple to right-center, scoring both runners and tying the score.
Although CSC fell behind again, 6-4, the Eagles had another rally in them in the top of the sixth.
Madison Sebbo and Pitrat singled and
Macie Selfors bunted Pitrat and pinch-runner
Elia DeLozier into scoring position. Thorngren came through again, swinging on the second pitch and going to right field once again to score both runners.
Both pitchers held serve until the bottom of the eighth, when Adams State led off with a single. The Grizzlies tried to bunt and popped it up – catcher
Amber Boland made a phenomenal diving catch in foul territory for the out, but the runner alertly tagged up to go to second anyway, and the following batter recorded the game-winning hit.
In game two, the Eagles manufactured two separate run-scoring moments in the top of the fourth. Thorngren laced a one-out triple and
Brogan Allen scored her on a sacrifice fly. With two outs and the bases clear,
Brianna Cordray doubled down the left field line before fellow freshman
Lani Davis lined one the other way to shallow right field to score a second run.
The Grizzlies took control of the second game by scoring three times in the fourth and three times in the fifth, aided by two Eagle errors.
The final two games of the regular season for CSC softball are on Saturday, with start time at 11 a.m.
