KINGSVILLE, Texas— The 2019 Colorado Mesa University Softball season came to an end on Friday as the Mavericks dropped a 6-4 decision in 10 innings in what was their longest game of the season to Oklahoma Christian University on Day 2 of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional here at Texas A&M University-Kingsville's Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field.
The Mavericks, who finish the year 45-11, opened a 4-0 lead through three innings before the Eagles rallied back for three runs in the top of the sixth and a game-tying in the seventh.
The Mavericks then had an apparent victory in the bottom of the ninth on what would have been a 1-out bases-loaded
Kaila Jacobi sacrifice fly. However,
Lauren Wedman was called out at third on an appeal for leaving early as the threat was ended.
In the 10
th, the Eagles had their first two hitter reach on singles before Kayla Eichler hit a 2-run double to give OCU the lead for the first time. The Mavericks and senior pitcher
McKenzie Surface got out of the inning with two strikeouts but then went down quietly in the bottom half as they were only able to manage a leadoff walk.
Early on, it was all CMU as
Brooke Doumer, who went on to steal two of CMU's four bases on the afternoon, and
AnnMarie Torres both drew walks. However, a double play ended the Mavericks' first.
In the second, the Mavericks plated two runs as
Bailey Kleespies drew a lead-off walk before being lifted for pinch-runner
Madysen Kearns, who eventually scored on an RBI fielder's choice by
Alexa Samuels.
The Mavericks also tacked on another run via a throwing error before scoring their third run of the day on a
Hailey Hinson infield single following hits by Torres and Kleespies. They then went up 4-0 later in the inning when Kleespies scored in a first-and-third situation that retired Hinson.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher
Kimbri Herring was in control giving up just one hit in five innings.
However, an error and walk to begin the OCU sixth led to a 2-run double by Bridget White followed by another double off the bat of Lindsey Stoeckel as the Eagles were suddenly with a run at 4-3.
Herring was then lifted for reliever
Paige Adair, who made her first appearance since Mar. 31.
Adair then retired the first four Eagles she faced before falling into trouble as back-to-back singles by Brie Dunckel and Hunter Strickland, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly by Kaylie Upton against Surface, tied the game in the top of the seventh.
After a walk, Surface then set down seven straight Eagles in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
The Mavericks could not capitalize going down 1-2-3 in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings before loading the bases in the ninth.
Surface took the loss and fell to 20-4 but still finishes her career as the winningest pitcher in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference history with 90 wins, 12 more than the former record. She also finished with 592 career strikeouts, third most in conference history.
Herring went five-plus innings giving up just three hits and two earned runs while striking out four while reliever Kali Crandall earned the win after giving up just one hit in 4 1/3 innings of solid work.
The Mavericks had six different hitters record hits but were out-hit 8-6 overall in the 3-hour and 1-minute contest.
The Mavericks' senior class went an impressive 181-37 (.830) in their careers and won all four RMAC Regular Season titles as well as two RMAC Tournament crowns. They also advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in all four years of their careers, a first in program history.
OCU later won another elimination game, 7-5 over No. 10 West Texas A&M to advance to Saturday's regional championship against the host Javelinas, who will need to win just one of two games to qualify for next week's South Central Super Regional.
