GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks were held to a season-low four hits in each game and left 10 on base in the second as they split a pair of 4-1 decisions with the visiting Regis University Rangers in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Softball doubleheader at the CMU Softball Stadium on Sunday.
 
The nation's top-ranked Mavericks won the first game by that scoreline thanks in large part to a key 2-run RBI single from AnnMarie Torres in a 3-run third inning, but wasted too many opportunities in the second as the Rangers ended the Mavericks' undefeated run.
 
The Mavericks, who are now 37-1 overall and 27-1 in RMAC play, had started the year with 37 straight wins, a RMAC record, that will go down as tied for the sixth longest winning streak in NCAA Division II history.  They also saw their 39-game home-field winning streak snapped by the Rangers, who move to 27-17 overall and 22-10 in the conference, good for third place in the conference standings.
 
Game 1
 
The Mavericks and starting pitcher McKenzie Surface were able to work out of first and third-inning jams that saw the Rangers leave five runners on base in the first three innings.
 
CMU then went to work in the bottom of the third as Hailey Hinson hit a leadoff single before moving to second on a Maggie Manwarren sacrifice and to third on a Ranger error.  Brooke Hodgson was then walked intentionally load the bases before Torres put the Mavericks up with her 2-run single to right center.  She and Hodgson then executed a delayed double steal as Hodgson scored the third run of the inning.
 
The Mavericks would also tack on a run in the fourth on a Hinson RBI double that plated Abby Toller to extend the lead to 4-0 through four.
 
The Rangers, who out-hit CMU 9-4 in the game, then pulled one run back in the fifth on a 2-out Lauren Hernandez homer but could manage no more.
 
Surface spread six hits and a walk 3 2/3 innings of shutout softball while striking out three before being forced out of the game due to injury.  Kimbri Herring came on in relief to earn the win after going 3 1/3 innings while giving up just three hits.  She also had three strikeouts and is now 15-0 on the year.
 
Logan Losh (15-7) suffered the loss for the Rangers after giving up four hits, three walks and four runs, two of which were earned.
 
Hinson went 2-for-2 to lead the Mavericks offensively.
 
Game 2
 
The Rangers scored a second-inning run on a wild pitch and then added another in the third when Analece Apodaca doubled in Melissa Heronema.
 
They then put two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth on a Heronema single to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
The Mavericks would get one run back in the fourth as Torres doubled to begin the inning before moving on to third on a Kaila Jacobi groundout and scoring on an errant fielder's choice throw. 
 
However, Abby Toller would be called out minutes later for being out of the batter's box on what had been originally ruled as a bunt double as the Rangers escaped what could have been a big inning with minimal damage.
 
The Mavericks still had opportunities in the later innings but left two runners on in each of the final three innings as the Rangers held on to the victory.
 
Ranger starter Taylor Armitage went the distance allowing four hits and two walks while striking out three to improve to 11-10.
 
Hodgson (4-1) suffered the loss for the Mavericks after giving up three hits and four runs, only two of which were earned.  Herring then pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief while allowing just one hit and striking out four to keep the Mavericks close.
 
CMU still has a 4 ½ game lead in the RMAC standings over Colorado Christian (32-8, 22-5 RMAC), which swept a Sunday doubleheader against Adams State.  The Cougars will play the Grizzlies twice more on Monday and then will come to visit the Mavericks for a key 4-game series next weekend.  
 
Doubleheaders are slated for noon on Saturday (Apr. 21) and 11 a.m. on Sunday (Apr. 22).