GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Colorado Mesa University's softball team picked up their 15^th and 16^th straight wins against MSU Denver and extended their overall winning streak to nine as they swept a Monday doubleheader and 4-game Sunday/Monday series from the Roadrunners here at the CMU Softball Stadium. The Mavericks, now 10-4 overall and 4-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, have not lost to the Roadrunners (8-9, 0-4 RMAC) since 2016.
 
They gave up just one run in Monday's doubleheader in three in the entire series, outscoring the Roadrunners 23-3 after claiming 7-1 and 4-0 wins on Monday.
 
In the first game of the day and the third of the series, Shea Mauser (2-1) got the ball again and only needed 75 pitches to earn another complete game victory, striking out four after fanning seven in the Mavs' series-opener on Sunday.
 
Meanwhile, the Mavericks' scored early as Ellie Smith, who went on to toss a 3-hit shutout in the series finale, doubled home Lauren Wedman for the doubleheader's opening run in the bottom of the first.
 
Audrey Burt then answered Smith's double in the top half of the second inning with a solo home run. The solo shot would be the only run the Roadrunners put on the board all day.
 
However, Maverick first baseman Sarah Jorissen hit her second home run of the weekend in the bottom of the second allowing CMU to quickly regain the lead, 3-1.
 
The Mavericks did not score again until the fifth inning when Ally Distler hit a 3-run home run to right field allowing Mallory Warner and Myah Arrieta to score.  They then completed the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Bradford trotted across the plate on a designed double steal.
 
The Mavs' momentum from the first three games of the series continued into the final game of the series.
 
Smith dominated not only in the batter's box but in the circle as well as she was called upon and delivered her second win of the series against MSU Denver and her first shutout of the season.  Now 4-2 overall, Smith fanned four Roadrunners as none made it past second base.
 
In the third inning, Wedman was able to reach on a fielding error as Iliana Mendoza rounded third and scored the go-ahead run.
 
Meanwhile, Arrieta had a big game for the Mavericks as she ended the game 1-for-3 while collecting three RBIs.  The first came on a groundout later in the third inning as Wedman scored.
 
She then delivered a  big 2-run single in the fifth, allowing both pinch-runner Bryerly Avina and Wedman to score.
 
Smith went 2-for-4 at the plate and needed just 81 pitches to toss the shutout.
 
The Mavericks head back on the road next weekend as they will take on Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (1-11, 1-3 RMAC) in another 4-game set starting on Saturday (Mar. 5).