Eric Flores
The Paw Print
Adams State College freshman Katelyn Lovato nailed a single in the third inning of Game 1 and a triple in the fifth inning of Game 2 of Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference doubleheader against Western New Mexico University to break ASC’s former consecutive game hitting streak record of 19 games, previously held by assistant coach Shannon Galanek. But it was not enough for the Grizzlies, who dropped the games 11-2 and 12-4 while falling to 9-12 overall and to 8-11 in the RMAC.
The Grizzlies, who had a season-high seven errors in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader at Mustang Field, had eight during the doubleheader as the Mustangs (20-15, 16-7 RMAC) maintained their 1 ½-game lead in the RMAC West Division standings with the run-rule wins.
The Mustangs cracked the scoreboard first as they posted two runs in the bottom of the first inning with a 2-run triple by leftfielder Brittney Batten.
Adams State then got on the board in the top of the third inning as freshman Jamie Roland (Hesperia, Calif.) hit a double down the left field line before scoring on the record-breaking single by Lovato, who now has a hit in every game this season while leading the RMAC with her .519 batting average.
Junior and older sister Jaycee Lovato then hit a solo home run, her team-leading seventh of the season, in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 11-2 before both teams were held scoreless for an additional inning as the game was ended in the fifth due to the run-rule.
Lindquist, who pitched two innings while giving up eight hits, one walk and seven earned runs, fell to 5-4 on the year. Junior Marissa Elsberry came in and pitched two innings of relief ball while only giving up three hits and two walks while being charged with four runs, two of which were earned.After the game head coach Dervin Taylor had an animated discussion with his players and everyone thought it worked out as they quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead when freshman Ashley Pohl got on base and was brought around by Jaycee Lovato double before Roland chased her around with an RBI single.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, the Grizzlies then extended their lead to 3-0 thanks to a Mustang error that allowed sophomore Tarah Campagnola to score.
However, the Mustangs then rode back in to it as they were able to get three runs in the second, thanks to four errors on Roland in left field, and then another three in the third on a Barnes RBI single and a 2-run shot by Jessica Jayo.
The Grizzlies then tacked on another run in the fifth inning as Katelyn Lovato hit a triple to right center before Pohl hit a sacrifice fly to drive her in.
In the sixth inning, the Grizzlies were given a scare as Katelyn Lovato dove into the fence trying to catch a high fly ball that ended up being a Barr triple.
The very next play was a 2-run Barnes home run that ended the game.“We are a better team then what we showed today, “said Taylor. “Tomorrow is a new day,” he commented about Sunday’s doubleheader between the same two teams that will begin at 11 a.m.
Pohl pitched 5 1/3 innings and fell to 2-3 on the year as she gave up 14 hits while striking out two. She gave up 12 runs, nine of which were earned.
The Grizzlies had 11 total hits in the doubleheader and were led by Katelyn Lovato, who went a combined 3-for-5, and Roland, who went 2-for-3.
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