Pack settles for split with Regis

CSU-Pueblo 3, Regis 2 (11)
Regis 6, CSU-Pueblo 3

DENVER - The Pack was manic Saturday, rising from the high of taking a 2-1 win in an 11-inning marathon with Regis, then falling back to earth as they couldn't convert the back end of the doubleheader, losing 6-3 in the nightcap.

In the first game, a classic pitching duel between the Pack's Kesley Swanberg and Kaitlyn Gentert, who pitched 11 strong innings for the Rangers, only allowing seven hits in the process.  But one of those hits was to the Pack's spark plug, Janine Tyler.

All Tyler needed to do is get on base.  She took care of the rest.

She promptly stole second, advanced to third on a ground out by Kari Romero, and got sent home on an RBI single by Ashley Aldrich.  The Pack secured the win in the bottom half of the inning as Amber Higby held the Rangers to earn her second win of the season.

In the late game, behind starter Alyssa Hansen, who was seeing her first action after sitting out four games following injuries sustained in a car accident, struggled against the Rangers.  She gave up six runs in 2-2/3 innings, leaving the Pack trying to claw back from a 6-1 disadvantage. 

The Pack nearly did it in the top of the 4th as the first four batters reached base, and two runs were walked in, cutting the Ranger lead to 6-3.  But Regis reliever Bianca Holley, who entered the game to stop the bleeding, promptly struck out the next two batters, practically securing victory at that point.

The split moves the Pack record to 9-8 overall and 4-4 in conference.  They will continue with the four-game series with Regis tomorrow with another doubleheader at Regis.