IRVINE, Calif.— Newcomer Iliana Mendoza drove in four runs while she and returning consensus first team all-Americans Lauren Wedman and Ellie Smith all had 2-hit performances to lead the nation's 21^st-ranked Colorado Mesa University Maverick softball team to a 9-1 season-opening win over San Francisco State University on Friday afternoon here in opening day action of the Concordia Kick-Off Classic.
 
Sophomore catcher Ally Distler also hit an insurance home run while Maverick pitchers Paige Adair and Shea Mauser combined for ten strikeouts while allowing just three hits and zero earned runs.
 
Mendoza, a transfer from Eastern New Mexico University, went 2-for-4 from her lead-off spot, plated two of CMU's three fourth-inning runs before hitting a 2-run double to put CMU up 6-1 in the sixth.  The redshirt sophomore center fielder then scored a run of her own when Wedman, who went 2-for-3 with two walks on the day, singled Mendoza home moments later.

Distler then homered to begin the top of the seventh before Brandi Haller, who also was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, hit a run-scoring double to score Ashley Bradford with CMU's final run on what was their 12^th and final hit of the afternoon.
 
Meanwhile, Adair, the 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, was in fine form, giving up just two hits while striking out eight of the 15 batters she faced in four innings.
 
Leaving with a 4-0 lead, Adair then gave way to Mauser who gave up just one hit and one unearned run while earning a 3-inning save.
 
The Mavericks will play third-ranked Biola University on Friday evening in their second game of the 3-day tournament.  Live statistics and a live stream of that game will be available.