CSC Softball Splits With NMHU Again

Freshman Brooklyn Levin pitched a one-hit shutout victory to earn her first career win and propel Chadron State to a split on Sunday, falling 4-3 in game one before winning game two 3-0.
 
After also splitting Saturday’s doubleheader, CSC improves to 7-35 overall and 7-25 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Cowgirls are now 13-25 overall and 9-25 in RMAC action.
 
The Eagles scored three late runs in game one but eventually fell 4-3.
 
New Mexico Highlands began scoring with two homers in the second inning, the first being two runs and the second a solo, making the score 3-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Cowgirls added one more run after a defensive error by CSC.
 
Chadron State began its comeback attempt in the bottom of the fourth. Lauren Zimmerman, a junior from Reno, Nevada, hit a single before being pinch ran for by Devyn Thornton.
 
After Thornton stole second, she was brought home by a Mackenzi Kroll double. The Cowgirl defense halted the threat from the Eagles, leaving the bases loaded.
 
The Eagles made the score 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Zimmerman brought Jaelyn Martinez, a sophomore from Aurora, Colorado, home with a sacrifice fly.  
 
CSC added one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jessie Henchenski, a senior from Fort Collins, Colorado, hit a leadoff homer to center field to make the score 4-3.
 
Chadron State was unable to record another hit in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, runners were left stranded on first and second, ending the game 4-3 in the visitors favor.
 
Kenzi Garner, a junior from Broomfield, Colorado, received the complete game loss. She allowed four runs, three being earned, with three strikeouts and four walks.
 
The Eagles finished the game with three runs, nine hits and one error. Highlands had four runs, seven hits and two errors.
 
In game two, Levin, a freshman from Littleton, Colorado, only allowed one hit while striking out four batters and walking one in the complete game victory.
 
The Eagles had three runs and six hits in the win.
 
New Mexico Highlands only hit of the game was a two out single in the top of the third inning. The visitors next batter was retired.
 
With two outs and tied at zero entering the bottom of the fourth, Kroll, a senior from Brighton, Colorado, drew a walk. After a double by Henchenski that advanced Kroll to third, J’lyssa Martinez singled to center field to score the pair.
 
Martinez, a junior from Denver, Colorado, scored the third run of the inning when Jorja Sierra singled to left field, making the score 3-0.
 
Levin’s lone walk occurred in the top of the fifth inning with one out. The Cowgirl’s next batter struck out before the CSC defense used a fielder’s choice for the third out.
 
Despite holding Chadron State to three runs, the Cowgirl’s were unable to gain another base runner over the next two innings, ending the game 3-0 in CSC’s favor.
 
Chadron State has its final road trip of the season next weekend. The Eagles will play Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado on Saturday and Sunday.