The Snow College softball team matched up against the Colorado Northwestern Community College Spartans Thursday and Saturday in Ephraim. The games were originally set to be played in Rangely, CO but were changed to be played in Utah due to the weather. Because of this, the Badgers would be the visiting team despite playing on their own field.
The weekend's doubleheaders would see Snow College win every game by at least 14 runs. In Thursday's games, the Badgers rolled over the Spartans and won 21-0 in the first matchup and 24-6 in the second. In Saturday's games, Snow College won 18-4 in the first game of the day and finished the weekend with a monstrous 21-0 victory.
The Badgers entered the weekend of play after hosting the College of Southern Nevada the week prior where the teams split the victories at two apiece. The Coyotes fought to win the first and fourth games with final scores of 4-1 and 7-6. Snow College earned victories in the second and third games with final scores of 5-4 and 15-7.
Following these matchups, the 10-5 Badgers prepared to square off against the 0-12 Spartans Thursday afternoon. Snow College has a 28-game winning streak against CNCC, and hasn't lost to the team since May 2017.
The Badgers wasted no time building a lead as they kicked off the first doubleheader of the weekend. In the first inning of Thursday's first game, Snow College combined for six runs on seven hits. The team extended the lead in the second by adding two more runs. The Spartans struggled early on as they went down in order in the first and second innings.
In the third inning, the Badgers exploded for 10 runs on eight hits as they charged ahead to an 18-0 lead. Triples by Tasia Shibuya and Bailey Bowers ignited Snow College's offense. The Badgers added two more runs in the fourth inning and ended the fifth scoreless as the game came to a 21-0 close. Pitcher August Cowan earned the victory in Thursday's first game going the distance allowing just two hits and striking out seven.
Snow College would continue the charge in game two. Hadlee Walker led the Badgers offensively as she hit for the cycle. She went 4-5, drove in three runs and scored four times. Entering the fourth inning, Snow College led 10-4.
The fourth inning saw the Badgers score 13 runs on nine hits. Cowan, Walker, and McCall Maxfield each added doubles while Shibuya crushed two doubles. CNCC would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth ending the inning with a score of 23-6. Snow College added one more run in the fifth inning, and the game came to a 24-6 close. Saige Ewing earned the win as she pitched two innings and struck out two.
With undesirable weather Friday afternoon, both teams prepared to face off Saturday for the final doubleheader of the weekend. Although the Spartans led 2-1 after the first inning in Saturday's opening game, Snow College quickly responded. The team rallied for three runs in the second inning and six runs in the third to push to a 10-3 lead.
The Badgers' carried the momentum, and the team finished the game scoring six runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth. Snow College combined for seven doubles and four triples runs as the team totaled 14 hits on the day. Kaylee Lyman and Walker would each add a home run and the Badgers cruised to an 18-4 victory. Pitcher Kenley Henson earned the victory as she threw two innings and gave up only one run.
In the final game of the weekend, Snow College put on a fireworks show as the team combined for four home runs in five innings of play. In her first two at bats, Maxfield crushed homers to left field. Kaitlyn Slade and Andrea Sweat joined the fun and each added home runs, further extending the Badger's lead. Snow College scored five in the first inning, ten in the second, and six in the fourth to propel the squad to a 21-0 victory in the last matchup of the weekend.
Sweat would earn the final victory for the Badgers as she finished with 11 strikeouts in five complete innings pitched. Out of 77 pitches, she threw an impressive 44 strikes and allowed just two hits throughout the game.
Snow College was led in hitting over the weekend by Shibuya, who finished with 10 hits in 16 at bats. Slade also shined offensively, leading the team with 19 RBIs throughout the two doubleheaders.
The Badgers will now prepare to face the No. 19 College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles Monday and Tuesday in Twin Falls. Monday's matchups are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., while Tuesday's games will be held at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
