No. 22-ranked Mesa State softball team hosted Ft. Lewis College in its conference season opener Sunday afternoon at Bergman Field. MSC (3-1, 1-1) won game one 6-5 and dropped game two 3-2 against the Skyhawks (2-5, 1-1).
In game one the Mavericks jumped out to a 5-0 lead heading in to the top of the sixth when the Skyhawks tied the game scoring five runs on five hits. In the bottom of 7th with two outs MSC took advantage of 2 walks and a single by Danielle Vallie to load the bases. Senior Gabriella Parra's infield single scored Lisa Pille for a 6-5 victory. Parra was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 1 run.
Freshman Wailana Borrero went 1.2 innings for her first collegiate win. Starter Sara Jordan went 5.1 innings, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits.
In game two Ft. Lewis took a 2-0 lead in to the sixth inning having allowed the Mavs just four hits through 5 innings. In the bottom of the sixth MSC tied the game with the help of two Skyhawk errors resulting in 2 runs on one hit.
FLC scored the go-ahead run in the seventh when Chelena Coulston walked to start the inning and scored on a single by Ashley Hibbs for a 3-2 lead. FLC's starter Kassie Haubert picked up her first victory of the year closing out the Mavs in the 7th with three straight ground outs.
Mavs starter Cierra Lard allowed 3 runs on 10 hits. Danielle Vallie registered two of the Mavericks five hits.
Mesa will host Metro State College this weekend, March 6-7, at Bergman Field. Saturday's doubleheader will start at Noon.
