The Snow College softball team was swept by the College of Southern Nevada in four games over the weekend. Friday's games saw the Badgers fall 4-1 and 10-9 in eight innings, while Saturday's final scores were 9-4 and 3-2.
Snow College entered this weekend of play following a series sweep at the hands of Utah State University Eastern last weekend in Price. Snow College was defeated in Friday's games with scores of 19-11 and 10-6, while falling 8-7 and 9-8 on Saturday.
The 16-19 Badgers traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada with hopes of snapping their losing streak. The Coyotes came into the weekend with an overall record of 23-19 and a 15-13 record within the Scenic West Athletic Conference. The last series between these two teams, held Mar. 17 and 18, saw Snow College win games two and three while the Coyotes took games one and four.
The Badgers got off to a slow start in game one. In the first five innings of play, the squad managed just one hit. CSN on the other hand scored runs in the third, fourth, and fifth inning, enabling the squad to build a 4-0 lead.
Snow College earned one run in the sixth frame thanks to Kaylee Lyman, who was drove in Tasia Shibuya. Both squads stayed scoreless through the next inning and the game came to a 4-1 close for the Coyotes.
The second game of Friday's doubleheader proved to be the hardest-fought battle of the series as it stretched to extra innings. Through the first three innings, Snow College scored one run on three hits while CSN earned three runs. Despite this gradual start, the Badgers combined for four hits and earned three runs in the fourth inning alone. The Coyotes were unable to respond in the fourth, and the inning came to a 4-3 close for Snow College.
The Badgers excelled from the plate in the fifth inning by totaling four hits which brought in four runs. Two of the four hits were home runs crushed by Emily Higley then by Hadlee Walker. With Maxfield, Sweat, Higley, and Walker all scoring, Snow College extended the lead to 8-3.
CSN retaliated, however, with two quick runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Through the next three frames, the Badger's control would be taken away as the Coyotes embarked on a comeback. Snow College scored only one run in those innings while CSN rallied for five, pushing them past the Badgers. Game two came to a 10-9 close for the Coyotes as they claimed the first doubleheader of the weekend.
Although Saturday's first matchup began as a close fight, CSN would later go on to build an insurmountable lead. Through the first four frames, Snow College scored two runs on four hits while the Coyotes scored four runs. The fifth inning, however, saw CSN earn five runs on three hits, two of which were home runs.
Even though the Badgers would go on to score two runs in the seventh frame, it would not be enough to push them past the Coyotes. Game three came to a 9-4 close.
The final game of the series saw both teams struggle from the plate early on. Through the first four innings of play, six Badgers struck out and the team was unable to score. CSN, however, earned one run in the third frame.
Despite the rocky start, Snow College scored two runs in the fifth inning by way of a home run by August Cowan, which brought in Higley. The Coyotes quickly responded with a home run of their own, earning two runs as well. The next two frames saw both teams remain scoreless, and the game came to a 3-2 close for CSN.
Over the weekend, the Badgers were led in hitting by Maxfield who finished with six hits in thirteen at bats.
The Badgers will now prepare to host Colorado Northwestern Community College this weekend in Ephraim. In their series earlier this season, Snow College earned victories in every game by at least 14 runs.
Friday's games are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. while Saturday's matchups are set for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in Ephraim. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
