TUCSON, Ariz.— The Colorado Mesa University softball team came up on the short end of a pair of 1-run thrillers on Saturday at the Cactus Classic here at Lincoln Park.
 
In their first game of the day against Simon Fraser, the Mavericks trailed 13-5 heading to the bottom of the fifth and 13-8 going to the bottom of the seventh before hitting three home runs to pull within 13-12.  They then loaded the bases with just one out before a bizarre illegal substitution call and ground out ended the rally.
 
The Mavericks then led St. Mary's 3-0 through five innings of the nightcap before the Rattlers scored three runs in the sixth.
 
CMU then went ahead 4-3 in the top of the seventh before two Rattler runs in the bottom half of the inning gave them the win.
 
CMU is now 6-3 on the year while Simon Fraser remained perfect on the young season and the weekend at 4-0.  St. Mary's improved to 5-5 with their win.
 
Simon Fraser Game
 
The Mavericks hit six home runs throughout the game, two of which came off the bat of lead-off left fielder Brooke Doumer, who went 4-for-5 overall.  The Mavs also had 16 total hits but fell short in the slugfest.
 
Simon Fraser, the lone Canadian member of the NCAA, scored a run in the top of the first before Doumer tied the game on the Mavericks' first opportunity with her first blast.  Kaila Jacobi then hit a 2-run shot later in the inning to put the Mavericks up 3-1.
 
They then tacked on another run in the bottom of the third on a Clan error but gave up five runs in the top of the fourth and four more in the fifth to fall behind 13-5.
 
Needing at least one run to continue the game in the bottom of the fifth, the Mavericks got it from AnnMarie Torres, who took a 3-2 lead-off pitch over the fence in left.  The Mavericks then got another run on a RBI single by Sarah Staudle but saw the Clan turn a double play moments later to help minimize the damage.
 
The Mavs then got another run on a Jacobi RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to close to within 13-8 before Lexie Comer homered to begin the bottom of the seventh.  Alexandria Dufour then recorded a bunt single before Hailey Hinson hit a 2-run shot to center to make the score 13-11.
 
Doumer then made it back-to-back homers as the Mavs were suddenly within a run.  Kellie Mrofcza then hit a single and moved to second on a passed ball before Torres walked.  After a fielder's choice groundout, a passed ball and another walk, the Mavs had the bases loaded with just one out before they were called for an illegal substitution that brought the out count to two after a lengthy discussion between the umpires.
 
A groundout then ended the game.
 
St. Mary's Game

Against the Rattlers, the Mavs and pitcher Paige Adair recorded three straight 1-2-3 innings to begin the game but could not convert as they managed just one hit themselves in the opening three innings.
 
The Mavs then broke through in the top of the fourth when Torre led off the inning with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt.  She then moved to third on a deep fly out and scored when the incoming relay went awry.
 
The Mavs then went on to increase the lead to 3-0 with two runs in the fifth thanks to a run-scoring Doumer double and a RBI single by Mrofcza that plated the Western Nebraska Community College transfer.
 
Adair then snagged a second lineout double play in as many innings to get out of the bottom of the fifth.
 
However, the Rattlers tied the game with three runs in the sixth as pitcher Staci Johns delivered a base-clearing double with two outs.
 
CMU would be unfazed and went ahead 4-3 when Hinson started a 2-out rally with a double before scoring on a Rattler error.
 
St. Mary's then mounted another comeback in the bottom of the seventh with a 1-out walk and bunt single before an error and walk-off sacrifice fly gave the Rattlers the win.