TUCSON, Ariz.— The Colorado Mesa University softball team was held to just two hits in a 3-0 setback to West Texas A&M University but bounced back in a big way to defeat another Lone Star Conference foe in Western New Mexico University, 10-1, in the Mavericks' first two games at the Cactus Classic here at Lincoln Park.
The Thursday afternoon split left the Mavericks with a 5-2 mark on the season heading into two more tournament games on Friday against St. Mary's (Texas), a team they defeat 15-0 last week, and Eastern New Mexico.
West Texas A&M 3, Colorado Mesa 0
The Lady Buffs, who improved to 4-2 with that win, took advantage of two defensive miscues in the top of the first inning, scoring two unearned runs before taking on an insurance run in the fifth on their second sacrifice fly of the game.
That would be the difference as the Mavericks had just four base-runners throughout the game.
Brooke Doumer had one of the two hits, a 1-out single in the bottom of the first, and drew two walks while
Bailey Kleespies had a second-inning single for CMU.
Kyra Lair was nearly flawless from that point out as she struck out four while improving to 4-1.
Ellie Smith fell to 2-1 for the Mavericks despite a solid start, which saw her allow just five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Shanna McBroom went 2-for-3 and scored two runs from her lead-off spot to lead WTAMU.
Colorado Mesa 10, Western New Mexico 1
The Mavericks' bats came alive in the later game as they banged out eight hits, including triples from
Lauren Wedman and
AnnMarie Torres, while scoring multiple runs in four different innings. They tallied two in the first, third and fourth and then closed it out with a 4-run barrage in the seventh.
Meanwhile,
Shea Mauser (3-0) had six strikeouts while allowing four hits in a complete game win from inside the circle.
Wedman and
Taylor Tremelling each went 2-for-3 while Torres went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Maverick attack.
Playing as the visiting team, the Mavericks wasted little time in scoring as Wedman hit a 1-out single before Torres tripled her home to right center.
Jordyn Hays then brought Torres home with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 CMU.
In the third, the Mavericks used an RBI triple by Wedman and an RBI groundout by Torres to double the lead to 4-0. Another RBI groundout and a wild pitch allowed the Mavericks to score twice more in the fourth as they extended their lead to 6-1 after the Mustangs scratched out a third-inning marker.
In the seventh, the Maverick had six straight batters reach safely as Tremmeling delivered a bases-loaded single to right with two outs to complete the scoring.
