IRVINE, Calif.— A 4-run fourth inning was enough to lift the No. 10 ranked and tournament host Concordia University Irvine Eagles to a 5-3 Saturday evening win over the 21
st-ranked Colorado Mesa University Mavericks, who dropped their third game of the Concordia Kickoff Classic in see-saw fashion here at the Great Park Stadium Field.
CMU, now 1-3 on the weekend and the young season, had came from 1-0 down to take a 3-1 lead before the Eagles stormed back to take the lead on a 3-run double by Missy Nemeth.
The Mavericks then went without a hit in the final three innings as the Eagles improved to 4-0 after out-hitting the Mavs, 8-6 overall.
The Mavericks went down in order in the top of the first before hits by
Ally Distler and
Ashley Bradford allowed the Mavericks to have two runners in scoring position in the top of the second. However, CUI pitcher Kaitlin Entrup caught two Mavericks looking to get out of the jam before her team got an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning.
The Mavs then loaded the bases with one out thanks to two walks and a
Lauren Wedman single and managed to tie the game on a Distler sacrifice fly that pinch runner
Bryerly Avina.
After a scoreless bottom of the third, the Mavericks took the lead in the fourth as
Myah Arrieta tripled in
Ashley Bradford with the go-ahead run before scoring moments later on a
Brandi Haller sacrifice fly in foul territory.
Leading 3-1, the Mavericks left two runners on base and then watched the Eagles storm back as Lauren Lopez singled before moving to second on a hit by pitch and to third on a passed ball after relief pitcher
Ellie Smith came in to replace starter
Shea Mauser.
The Eagles then loaded the bases on a fielder's choice before closing the deficit to 3-2 with an RBI base on balls drawn by Megan Massa. Smith then got another fielder's choice ground ball to third to record the second out before Nemeth's double to left put the Eagles up for good.
Bradford, who was 2-for-3 and Wedman, who was 2-for-4 led the Maverick attack. Mauser gave up five hits while striking out three innings in her 3-plus inning start before Smith (0-2) took the loss after giving up three hits and two walks in three innings.
Entrup (2-0) earned the win after striking out seven in the complete game effort.
The Mavericks will wrap up the tournament weekend on Sunday facing Sonoma State at 8:45 a.m. PST (9:45 a.m. Mountain)., who dropped their third game of the Concordia Kickoff Classic in see-saw fashion here at the Great Park Stadium Field.
