ST. GEORGE, Utah— A 3-run home run from 2-time Third Team All-American
AnnMarie Torres, who went 2-for-2 while drawing two other walks at the plate, stood up as the No. 21 Colorado Mesa University Mavericks claimed a 7-2 win over Western Washington University on Friday night in Dixie State Courtyard Classic action at the Canyons Softball Complex.
Meanwhile, sophomore
Paige Adair tallied eight strikeouts while spreading out six hits and two walks in her Maverick debut as CMU improved to 3-0 on the young season while dropping the Vikings to 4-3.
CMU, which got three unearned insurance runs in the top of the seventh to break open the game,
had defeated Central Washington 6-0 earlier in the day thanks to a 3-hit shutout from Kimbri Herring and home runs by Kaila Jacobi and Brooke Doumer.
In the evening contest, the Mavericks wasted no time as
Alexandria Dufour led the game off with a single before moving to second on a
Kellie Mrofcza walk. After a wild pitch, Torres blasted a 3-1 Makinlee Sellevold pitch over the fence in right center as the Mavs took the early 3-0 lead.
The Vikings would get one run back in the bottom half of the inning on an Emily Benson sacrifice fly. However, they could do no more damage as Adair, a transfer from Pima Community College, struck out the next four Vikings she faced, including all three in the bottom of the second.
With that momentum on their side, the Mavericks then extended the lead to 4-1 in the top of the third as Dufour led the inning off with a triple before scoring on a Viking error on the very next play.
WWU would respond in the fourth with a RBI double by Jackie Lucido to pull within 4-2 before the Mavericks left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, allowing the Vikings to stay in the game.
They nearly took advantage in the bottom of the sixth as Benson singled to begin the frame before advancing to second on a Maverick error. However, Adair struck out Cylie Richards and Lucido and got Kira Doan to pop up as she got out of the jam.
In the top of the seventh, Torres hit a 1-out single before moving to second on a wild pitch and to third on an error as Jacobi reached. Two plays later, designated player
Bailey Kleespies delivered a big 2-run single and then scored the game's final run on yet another Viking error, their fourth.
The Vikings would go on to put runners on in the bottom of the seventh as well but Adair and the Maverick defense shut the door once again to claim the win.
CMU had eight hits in the game as Dufour, Torres and Doumer each tallied two. They also drew six walks and another free pass when Kleespies was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning.
Sellevold took the loss for the Vikings after giving up four hits, four runs and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. Doan then took over, surrendering three runs, four hits and three walks the rest of the way.
The Mavs will wrap up their weekend with two more games on Saturday playing Hawai'I Pacific (4-5) at 10 a.m. and Hawai'i-Hilo (4-3) at 12:30 p.m.
