CHADRON, Neb. – April 2, 2021 – Chadron State College softball lost a nail-biter in game one of Friday's doubleheader in Chadron against MSU Denver, and lost game two in five innings due to the run rule, in the first day of a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series.
"It's nice to see the ladies come in and compete," said CSC Head Softball Coach Kaley Ness. "They never gave up, and our hitters had trust in the hitters around them that they're going to also get on base. One person didn't have to carry the weight of the team. Instead, everyone took responsibility for their own bats."
In game one, the two teams battled back and forth to a 3-3 tie through four innings, before the Roadrunners pulled away in the fifth and sixth to make it 8-3.
However, CSC got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth and MSU Denver led 9-5 headed into the bottom of the seventh.
There, Angelica Maples hit a leadoff double, and Ali Conder got her first career base hit by doubling home Maples. Both players entered the game as pinch-hitters for their only at-bats.
Ellie Owens, Samantha Conradie, and Bailey Marvel strung together singles to make it 9-8 with two outs, and runners at first and second, but Roadrunners pitcher Destinee Lopez got the final out in the batter's box with a strikeout.
Starting pitcher Darby McGhee claimed the win, pitching six and two-thirds innings to improve to 6-2. Lopez earned her third save by entering the game with the potential tying run on base and the winning run at the plate.
Tia Kohl was the pitcher of record for the Eagles, falling to 3-7.
The latter game in the doubleheader went 9-0 in the Roadrunners' favor. They received five walks, one CSC error, and scored one run on a passed ball, and they only needed six base hits to end the game in five innings, after reaching their final score in four.
The scoring began on a Mackenzie Jamieson triple to right field in the first inning, and the Roadrunners' leading batter, Shelby Robb, capped it off in the fourth with her second homer of the day, good for the final three runs.
This time, Lopez pitched a complete game, allowing only two base hits and striking out five in five innings.
Peyton Propp dropped to 3-7 in the loss for CSC.
Chadron State fell to 7-15 (7-11 RMAC), while MSU Denver improved to 11-5 (10-4 RMAC).
Another doubleheader is set for 11 a.m. Saturday. The park is once again closed Saturday, however spectators are welcome to observe from beyond the fence, as many did Friday, for no charge.