Fifteen Unanswered Runs Lead to Grizzly Split with Metro State

Eric R. Flores
The Paw Print

Despite losing a close Game 1 10-9, the Adams State College Grizzly softball team used a unique spark to blast past the Metro State College Roadrunners 17-2 in a 5-inning run-rule victory here at Dryden Park on Sunday.
The Grizzlies started the weekend off on Thursday when they swept Division I foe University of Northern Colorado 2-1 and 10-6. Freshman Carly DeLorenzo hit her first homer of her career, a 3-run shot.
On Saturday, however, the Grizzlies were swept by Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference East foe, University of Nebraska-Kearney, 3-0 and 6-5. The second game was an 9-inning loss where sophomore DJ Consonero nailed her first homer in the top of the eighth inning.
In Sunday’s Game 2, the game started with a 2-run bomb from junior Rebecca Lindquist before the Roadrunners scored two runs in the bottom of the inning. That comeback was short-lived as redshirt freshman Kristen Payne nailed the first pitch of the inning to centerfield to break the tie.
After a fielder’s choice that allowed Tayler Else to reach first base, the two Grizzly speedsters, Katelyn Lovato and DeLorenzo, both singled to load the bases for Lindquist. She did not waste a single pitch because the first pitch was skied for a no-doubt grand slam, the first of her career, giving the Grizzlies a 7-2 lead.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the inning, the Grizzly dugout was scrambled. After a long at-bat by Metro State’s Molly Clark, a walk was issued. The unpopular call from the umpire did not go unnoted fans let their thoughts known. The umpire thought it was the Grizzly bench after a warning was issued to an innocent party in the dugout, the umpire did not agree with the laughter going on and decided to eject Graduate Assistant Coach Alex Schultz from the game.
Moments later, Head Coach Dervin Taylor was giving his thoughts to senior pitcher Rachel Lovato. Those thoughts were interpreted wrong by the officiating crew and Taylor as ejected from the game in a whirlwind of confusion.
After the excitement settled down, Rachel Lovato was able to shut the door on the Roadrunners in the inning.
Graduate Assistant and Junior Varsity Head Coach Rachel Vigil, who started the game as the first base coach, took over control of the team and manned the third base coaching box. With the first base coaching box empty, Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Beth Clute, made her coaching debut as the first base coach for the Grizzlies.
With the spark of excitement, the Grizzlies continued their dominance as they strung three hits, and with the help of an error were able to score three runs to take a 10-2 lead into the fourth inning.
In that fourth inning, Lindquist and senior Jaycee Lovato each singled to get on base for Payne who hit her second shot of the day, this time a 3-run shot, to extend the lead to 13-2.
The fifth inning was more of the same as Katelyn Lovato led off the inning with a solo shot to center field before DeLorenzo and Lindquist got hits and scored on a Jaycee
Lovato groundout and a Lizzy Schossow single. After another RBI by Else, the Grizzlies finished the scoring for the day with a 17-2 lead.
Game 1 was just as exciting, however, the win went to Metro State as they nailed three homers in the fourth inning after the Grizzlies took a 6-2 lead in the top half. After falling behind 7-6 and allowing three runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up 10-6, the Grizzlies tired to make a comeback as they were able to get two homers, a second homer from Schossow and a homer from Jaycee Lovato.
The comeback fell just short as the final two batters hit fly outs.
Sarah Lindquist lost the game as she allowed the 10 runs on 13 hits while walking three and striking out six.
The Grizzlies (22-19, 14-14 RMAC) hit nine homers on the day and scored the most runs on Metro State in their history in a single game. The previous record was 14.
Next week the Grizzlies will be at home at the ASC Softball Field to take on former assistant coach Kira Zieter and her Fort Lewis Skyhawks in one of the most important RMAC series of the season.