DENVER— The Colorado Mesa University Maverick softball team extended its' winning streak to 16 straight games dating back to last season and remained perfect in 2021 as they claimed 10-8 and 6-0 away wins over Regis University on Sunday afternoon here at the Regis Softball Field.
 
The Mavericks scored nine second-inning runs in Game 1 and built a 10-0 lead through 2 ½ innings before holding on for the victory.  Ellie Smith, who picked up the win in the first game, then hit two home runs in the second as Paige Adair tossed a brilliant 2-hit, 12-strikeout shutout in the second game of the doubleheader as the Mavericks improved to 14-0 overall and in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.  Regis, which came into the day third in the RMAC standings, fell to 11-5 overall and to 8-4 in conference action heading into another doubleheader between the teams on Monday, beginning at 11 a.m.
 
Nicole Christensen, who hit three home runs while driving in 10 runs during last weekend's home series against Adams State, continued her hot play going 4-for-7 with a double at the plate throughout the twin-bill.
 
Game 1
 
It was Christensen, who triggered the Mavericks' attack as she began the second inning with a double scoring one play later on a Sarah Staudle RBI single.
 
Later in the inning, Drew Sims drew a bases-loaded walk to make the score 2-0 before Brooke Doumer hit a 2-run single to double the lead to 4-0. Smith hit into a fielder's choice to plate Sims with the fifth run before an Ally Distler single plated Doumer to make it 6-0.
 
Aislyn Sharp, who had walked in her first plate appearance of the inning, then delivered a massive 3-run double to give the Mavericks a 9-0 lead as they chased Regis starter Taylor Armitage from the game.
 
The Mavericks then added a run in the top of the third to go up 10-0 as Doumer hit a 1-out double before scoring on an error just two plays later.
 
Meanwhile, Smith was in control giving up just two hits while striking out five Rangers through four innings.  However, the Rangers, who needed at least three runs to continue the game into the sixth, got to her in the bottom of the fifth as they plated seven runs on six hits and a Maverick error to cut the gap to 10-7.
 
Shea Mauser came on to relieve Smith in the middle of that inning.  After giving up a walk and two hits to the first three batters she faced, Mauser then retired five of the next six Rangers she faced, including three on strikes before a Ashlynn Balliet homer cut the gap to 10-8 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. 
 
After Armitage hit a single up the middle, Mauser then got Shayelyn Allen to foul out as the Mavericks claimed the win.
 
The Rangers out-hit the Mavericks, 10-7 in the game.  Doumer went 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs, a walk and a stolen base while Christensen went 2-for-4.
 
Smith still earned the win to improve to 5-0 after going 4 1/3 innings while striking out six.  Mauser recorded four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
 
Game 2
 
Smith hit the first of her two home runs in the top of the first as the Mavericks jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to that bomb, which followed a Lauren Wedman walk.
 
Meanwhile, Adair faced the minimum nine hitters in her first three innings erasing a lead-off single to Jade Loe to begin the second with a lineout double play that ended the inning.
 
Meanwhile, the Mavericks extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second as Sharp and Ashley Bradford were both hit by pitches before a Doumer walk loaded the bases.  Sharp then scored on a wild pitch.
 
Smith then began the fifth with a lead-off home run to left center to extend the lead to 4-0 before a 2-run double by Bradford plated Christensen and Distler, who had both followed Smith's bomb with infield singles to complete the scoring.
 
Adair, now 7-0, did not give up her second hit until there was one out in the fifth and then promptly retired the next eight Rangers she would face to record her RMAC-leading fourth shutout of the season in her first seven starts.
 
Recording a career-high 12 strikeouts, Adair fanned nine different Rangers and faced just two batters over the minimum while allowing just three total baserunners.
 
Christensen was 2-for-3 at the plate in the game while Smith went 2-for-4 with her two homers, her fourth and fifth of the campaign.