CANYON, Texas— The Colorado Mesa University softball team came up just a run short for the second straight game as they dropped a 2-1 decision to the tournament host West Texas A&M University Lady Buffs here at Schaeffer Park.
 
The contest ended up being the first of the West Texas Invitational after Texas A&M-Kingsville pulled out of the tournament on Friday morning, canceling the Mavs' scheduled weekend opener against the sixth-ranked Javelinas.
 
Now 2-4 on the season, the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth before the Lady Buffs (5-0), playing as the designated visiting team, answered for the other two runs in the game a half-inning later in the top of the sixth.
 
The Mavs then left a runner on third base in the bottom of the sixth before Heidi Vortherms struck out the Maverick side in the seventh to earn the win in the circle.
 
Vortherms struck out 14 and allowed just three hits, a walk and an unearned run to improve to 2-0 as she out-dueled Maverick starter Hannah Sattler, who allowed just five hits and two walks while falling to 1-2.
 
Brandi Haller, Ava Fugate and Rylee Crouch had the Mavs' hits.  Fugate and Crouch's were doubles.
 
Crouch's came at the start of the bottom of the fifth.  She then scored one play later as Makayla Westmoreland reached on an error, which allowed Crouch to score from second.
 
However, the Lady Buffs came right back as Ruby Salzman walked before scoring on back-to-back singles. 
 
After a groundout that retired pinch-runner Malaya Delfin at the plate, Lauren Granger then reached on an RBI groundout that allowed Diana Murtha to score WTAMU's go-ahead run.
 
CMU catcher Miranda Pruitt then drew a 1-out walk in the bottom of the sixth before pinch-runner Bella Aragon stole second with two outs.  After advancing to third, Aragon was then stranded as Vortherms retired the final five Mavericks on strikes.
 
All six of the Mavs' games thus far have been decided by one or two runs.
 
The Mavericks will play two games on Saturday facing Eastern New Mexico at 10 a.m. CST (9 a.m. Mountain) before a re-match with the Lady Buffs following at 12:15 p.m. CST (11:15 a.m. Mountain), according to the tournament's revised schedule.