ST. GEORGE, Utah – Senior Hailey Hinson's single in the top of the seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie in a 6-4 win for Colorado Mesa in the team's season opener on Thursday (Feb. 6) at the Canyons Softball Complex in the Dixie State Courtyard Classic.
 
Hinson drove the first-pitch she saw through the right side and scored Kaley Barker from second base to break a 4-4 tie with Central Washington. The Windsor, Colo. native finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and two runs driven in.
 
One batter later, Brooke Doumer barreled a 1-0 pitch through the left side of the infield scoring Ashley Bradford from second to provide the Mavericks an insurance run in the final frame of action.
 
Colorado Mesa got on the board early in the game. In the top of the first inning, freshman Camryn Mullen singled home Tayah Gerber to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead before Central Washington came to the plate. The hit was the first in her collegiate career as she finished 2-for-4.
 
After the Wildcats knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, the Mavericks exploded for three runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Hinson, Brooke Doumer, and AnnMarie Torres.
 
Central Washington once again tied the game in the bottom of the fifth and the score would stay that way until Hinson broke the tie.
 
Newcomer Ellie Smith was brilliant in relief of starter Paige Adair. Smith, a midyear transfer from Cal State San Marcos, pitched three shutout innings and allowed just two hits while striking out four to earn the win.
 
The Mavericks move to 2-0 all-time against Central Washington having defeated the Wildcats last year in St. George in the Dixie State Courtyard Classic.
 
Colorado Mesa will have a pair of games tomorrow with the first game coming at 10am against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Later, at 3pm, they will play Montana State Billings.