GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Softball team used the long ball and big innings to claim another Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference double and series sweep, taking 7-3 and 10-2 wins over the visiting Colorado School of Mines Orediggers on Sunday here at the CMU Softball Stadium.  The Mavericks scored 14 of their 17 total runs in three big innings of four or five runs and hit five home runs throughout the day while improving to 8-0 on the season as they completed their second series sweep of the young season over the last eight days.
 
The Orediggers fell to 4-8 overall and to 3-5 in the RMAC.
 
In the first game, the Mavericks scored all seven of their runs on four home runs, including a first-inning grand slam from Ellie Smith.  Nicole Christensen, Brooke Doumer and Aislyn Sharp also hit solo blasts in the first, fourth and fifth innings.  The home runs were the first of Christensen and Sharp's collegiate careers.
 
Sharp then went on to deliver a 2-run go-ahead double in the second game before hitting another in the bottom of the fifth as the Mavericks walked-off with a 6-inning mercy rule in the nightcap and series finale.  The Mavericks scored four runs in that inning after scoring five in the fifth to break what had been a 1-1 tie.
 
Game 1
 
The Mavericks wasted little time in taking a commanding lead as the first three batters reached to set up Smith, who hit her grand slam to center after a fielder's choice, to put the Mavericks up 4-0.  Christensen then homered to left to make the score 5-0.
 
Meanwhile, Mines was held to just two hits in the first three innings by Maverick starter Shea Mauser before the Orediggers would get three runs in the top of the fourth thanks in part to a lead-off double by Clara Larson and back-to-back singles by Kayleigh Krueger and Kylie Redding.
 
Mauser then benefitted from a 5-2-3 double play before a throwing error allowed two more Mines runs to score cutting CMU's lead to 6-3.
 
However, Sharp pulled one of those runs back with her homer in the fourth.  Doumer then began the bottom of the fifth with her home run as Mauser went the distance allowing just five hits and one earned run to move to 2-0.
 
Game 2
 
The Mavericks again took the early lead as Christensen delivered a triple to plate Sarah Staudle, who had reached on a 2-hit bunt single.
 
Mines was held to just one hit through four innings before Megan Dickson hit a game-tying two out homer in the top of the fifth.
 
However, the Oredigger momentum would be short-lived as Sharp came up with her 2-run double with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom half of the frame.  Three plays later, Lauren Wedman delivered a 3-run single on a sharply hit ball to second as the Mavericks jumped out to a 6-1 lead.
 
After giving up one run in the sixth on a Larson sacrifice fly, CMU freshman catcher Ally Distler hit a lead off single before Staudle homered down the right field line to make the score 8-2
 
After a ground out, Ashley Bradford was hit by a pitch before Sharp doubled her home with a double to left as the speedster took third on the throw.  Sharp then was originally ruled out at the plate on a Drew Sims fielder's choice to second, but after the umpires consulted, the call was overturned as the Mavericks implemented the 8-run mercy rule for the second time in the series.
 
Paige Adair picked up the win to move to 4-0 after giving up just three hits to the Orediggers.  Staudle went 3-for-3 while Sharp was 2-for-3 as they combined for five RBIs and half of CMU's ten hits.
 
Up Next
 
The Mavericks will head back on the road next weekend playing at Fort Lewis in Durango.  The Skyhawks took three of four games at Adams State this weekend are now 4-8 overall and 4-4 in the RMAC.  Doubleheaders are slated at the Skyhawks' Aspen Field on Saturday at noon and Sunday at 11 a.m.