COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mesa State continued the rivalry with Metro State today in the opening game of the NCAA II Softball Central Regional and fell 10-1 (F/5),

Today's game was the fourth time Mesa and Metro has matched up in the past seven days. This game began quick for the Roadrunners of Metro State (47-4). Kellie Nishikida's middle infield single was the first of four base hits for Metro, plating two runs in the first inning.

Pitcher Sara Jordan (San Marcos, TX, Navarro JC) led off the second inning with a solo homerun for Mesa State (23-21), cutting the lead in half, 2-1. Megan Smith reached base via a single, but was retired following Whitney Bailey (Austin, TX, Bowie) hitting into a fielder's choice.
Lisa Pille (Ft. Collins, CO, Rocky Mountain) followed with a single to center field and Bailey rounded third and headed home, plowing through Roadrunner catcher Lauren Hainlen. Hainlen held onto the ball, tagging Bailey out and ending the inning for Mesa State.

In the bottom of the third, a dropped ball by the Mavericks led to a four-run inning for Metro, three of which came off the bat of Aubree Maul's homerun.

The Mavericks put together a rally in the top of the fifth inning as Pille led the inning off with a double down the left line. Lita Romero (Pueblo, CO, Central) hit a shot down the right line that was snagged by the Roadrunners, and then threw to second base, completing the double play.

Danielle Vallie (La Quinta, CA, La Quinta) and Katie Mitchell (Billings, MT, West) would both reach base via an single and an error respectively, but the Mavericks would ground out, ending the rally.

Metro State ended the game in the fifth inning as Tara Mickelson hit a three-run home run to centerfield.

“We didn't play our best game today,” said head coach Kris Mort following today's game. The Mavericks will now have to play through the loser's bracket to repeat as Regional Champion.

Mesa State will play the winner of the Winona State (Minn.)/Minnesota State game that was postponed this afternoon due to heavy rain at Mountain Lion Field. The game was tied at two in the fourth inning when the skies opened up.

Box Score | Post-Game Interview