Article Contributed on: 2/17/2006 1:19:09 PM
The Fort Lewis College softball team opened their 2006 season in Phoenix, Ariz. Thursday afternoon with a 3-2 win against Eastern New Mexico. The Skyhawks dropped the night game to Minnesota State - Mankato, 6-1, but rebounded to defeat Belmont Abbey College this morning, 3-1.
In the season opener, Melanie Lovato (Farmington, N.M.) batted 3-for-3 and batted two runs in while notching a walk at the plate. Senior Kathryn Abbott (Foxfield) was also a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while Temple Levings (Twin Falls, Idaho) batted 3-for-3 and scored all three of the Skyhawks runs. Junior Cassidy Maine (Greeley) pitched all seven innings.
Against the Mavericks, Fort Lewis took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Leslie Reed (Escondido, Cal.) and Aneliz Hernandez (Farmington, N.M.) both recorded two hits in the game. Lovato tallied a hit and the Skyhawks lone run of the game. Monica Chavez (New Mexico) made her pitching debut with 16 strikeouts. Two of Minnesota State's six hits were homeruns, accounting for five of their six runs.
In Friday's morning game, Chavez returned to the mound to pitch 6 and one-thirds inning, allowing only two hits, no runs and striking out 10 batters. Lauren Bails (Aurora) wrapped the game up on the mound with the last two outs.
The Skyhawks (2-1 overall) will find out their seed in the double elimination tournament this afternoon.