(Tucson, AZ) The Fort Lewis Skyhawks came into town for the 2020 Cactus Classic at Lincoln Park on Tucson’s Eastside.
Pitching in the second game of the day for Fort Lewis was Tucson native Mandy Lorenson.
Photo/David Wilson – Fort Lewis Athletics
After completing her high school career at Ironwood Ridge, she stayed in town to play one year for legendary coach Armando Quiroz at Pima College.
After pitching an astonishing six no hitters for the Aztecs, she garnered second team All American honors.
The next year, Lorenson went to Durango Colorado enrolling at Fort Lewis College for journalism and continuing her softball career with the Skyhawks.
In her red shirt junior year, Lorenson had the privilege of returning to the Old Pueblo to play in this weekend’s Cactus Classic.
Fort Lewis fell to Southern Nazarene University 11-2. Errors abounded both mental and miscues on plays in the middle innings that led to their demise in the opening game which Lorenson did not pitch.
Photo/David Wilson – Fort Lewis Athletics
The Nighthawks faced the University of Texas Permian Basin Falcons in the second game of the day where Lorenson started in the circle.
In the top of the third inning, two errors by second baseman Pilar Gutierrez and left fielder Kylie Henley extended the inning for the Falcons and allowed two unearned runs.
Down 2-0 in the fourth inning Lorenson’s pitching was solid, with two strikeouts and just two hits.
The Skyhawk offense was virtually non existent getting their team’s first hit in the home half of the third by Gutierrez who was stranded on base.
Lorenson gave up eight hits but spread them out and only allowed one earned run the entire contest. In a game of inches any miscues can can have dire consequences and in the end, her defense let her down. UTPB won the game 3-0.
Photo/David Wilson – Fort Lewis Athletics
Lorenson’s Skyhawks will wrap things up tomorrow and head back to Durango to continue on in their season hoping to improve from last year when she sat out due to an injury.
Lorenson still has that fire and drive burning inside that will lead her to success wherever her path takes her.
