LAKEWOOD, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks gave up big innings and were on the short side of a rare doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Colorado Christian University Cougars, who took over sole possession of the conference lead with 11-3 and 6-2 wins on Saturday here at All-Star Park.
The now 43-5 Cougars scored nine runs in the third inning of game one and put up five in the first two innings of the second as they extended their overall winning streak to 29 with the wins that pushed them to 31-1 in RMAC play, two full games over the Mavericks (37-7, 29-3 RMAC), who had come into the day tied with the hosts for the conference lead.
CCU's doubleheader sweep was keyed by some timely hitting and became the first RMAC team since 2020 to sweep the Mavericks in two conference games on the same day.
The Mavericks, who saw their 13-game winning streak snapped, were also run-ruled for the first time since 2017 (Dixie State) when Sydney Reamer hit a solo shot in the sixth inning of Game 1 to complete that victory.
The Cougars whit three home runs in that game while Reamer added another in the second game.
CMU's
Nicole Christensen had her second 2-home run in game in the last eight days to pace the Mavs in the second game.
Both teams finished the day with 13 hits, but the Cougars the much timelier ones.
Game 1
The Mavs took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third as they took advantage of two errors by Cougar shortstop Kayla Middleton while
Ashley Bradford and
Ellie Smith registered RBI singles around a
Myah Arrieta sacrifice fly.
However, the Cougars roared back with vengeance as Taylor Olsen hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third, highlighting the Cougars 9-run inning. That shot gave the Cougars a 5-3 lead.
They also hit by three pitches and had RBI hits from Miki Berg and Kenzie Middleton in the inning.
Olsen then added a home run to begin the bottom of the fourth before Reamer's sixth-inning lead-off shot finished the game.
The Cougars managed all of their damage with seven hits but also took advantage of three walks and four hit by pitches. Five of their seven hits were for extra bases as well.
CMU had six hits in the game, all singles, as
Ellie Smith went 2-for-3.
Brandi Haller and
Iliana Mendoza also had 1-for-2 games while each drew a walk.
Alexis Hamilton (18-1) picked up the win over CCU after going the distance while giving up just two earned runs and two walks while striking out three.
Paige Adair (13-2) suffered the loss for CMU after surrendering five hits and six earned runs in four total innings of work before and after a 1-inning stint from Smith.
Game 2
Extra-base hits and free passes also proved deadly to the Mavs in Game 2 as Olsen and Reamer hit back-to-back 2-out doubles to give the Cougars an early 1-0 lead before a walk and Kayla Middleton RBI single doubled the lead in the bottom of the first. Another walk and hit by pitch then gave the Cougars a 3-0 lead after one inning.
The Cougars then scored two more runs in the second as an error and passed ball helped the hosts go ahead 5-0.
Christensen then hit the first of her two solo shots to begin the third before Reamer answered for CCU with her second home run of the day to re-instate a 5-run (6-1) lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Christensen then led off the fifth with another home run, her tenth of the season, before the Mavs would go on to leave the bases loaded later in the inning as the Cougars went on to win.
The Mavs out-hit the Cougars, 7-6 in the game, as
Ashley Bradford went 2-for-4 with a double while Christensen went 2-for-3.
Abrie Castillo (17-2) picked up the win after giving up just two runs, one walk in her complete game effort. She also had five strikeouts.
Shea Mauser (11-3) took the loss for CMU while Smith recorded four strikeouts while giving up just one hit in 4 1/3 innings of relief.
The two teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The Mavericks will be in a nearly must-win situation if they are going to successfully defend their RMAC title.
