GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University softball team scored runs in seven of their eight half-innings, putting up three 4-run innings and a 15-run barrage in the third inning of Game 2 as they blasted visiting Black Hills State University by 10-1 and 22-1 margins in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball doubleheader here at the CMU Softball Stadium.
Both games were called after 4 ½ innings by the mercy rule as the Mavericks combined for 30 total hits, including seven home runs from six different players throughout the day.
In the process, they improved to 7-7 overall and to 5-1 in the RMAC while the visiting Yellow Jackets fell to 0-6 overall and in the early RMAC standings.
The 22 runs scored and 21-run margin of victory in the second game were the Mavs' largest since a 23-0 win over New Mexico Highlands on Mar. 10, 2018.
The Mavs have now won 27 straight games in the rivalry, winning five straight and eight out of the last nine in five innings.
Game 1
Miranda Pruitt hit two home runs and drove in five runs as the No. 4-7 spots of the Maverick lineup combined for an 8-for-11 effort at the plate. The heart of the Maverick lineup also scored all ten of the team's runs and combined for nine of the RBIs as
Sarah Jorissen,
Rylee Crouch and
Brandi Haller also hit home runs.
Meanwhile,
Hannah Sattler pitched a solid 5-hit, 1-run game and improved to 4-3 with her sixth complete game of the season.
Pruitt broke the deadlock with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the second before Shyala Tuschen hit a sacrifice fly to score Shylee Moxey with BHSU's only run of the game in the bottom of the third.
The Mavs answered in the bottom of the third when Crouch hit her RMAC-leading seventh home run, a 2-run shot. Haller then made it back-to-back blasts with a solo shot as the Mavericks increased the lead to 5-1.
Aislyn Sharp then delivered an RBI single later in the inning.
The Mavs then recorded their second straight 4-run inning in the fourth as Jorissen led the inning off with a home run before Crouch and Haller singled setting up Pruitt for her second home run of the game, a deep shot down the left field line that reached the baseball field.
Jorissen, Crouch and Haller all went 2-for-3 in the game while Pruitt was 2-for-2 while drawing a hit by pitch. She scored three runs as did Crouch.
Game 2
The Yellow Jackets were able to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning before back-to-back walks, a fielder's choice and Crouch RBI single allowed the Mavs to tie the game at the end of the first.
The Mavs then turned heat up on the Yellow Jacket pitchers in the second as they plated four runs on four hits, including RBI singles by Sharp, Myah Arrietta and Crouch to take a 5-1 lead.
The Maverick onslaught then continued tin the third as nine different Mavericks, including pinch hitters, recorded hits against three 'Jacket pitchers in the 15-run frame.
Ava Fugate had two hits in the inning as she homered to begin the frame before adding and RBI single.
2022 All-American and RMAC Player of the Year
Ashley Bradford also doubled and hit a 3-run homer in the inning, her first of the season as the Mavericks sent 20 batters to the plate.
Pinch hitter
Olivia Litzen also punctuated the inning with a 2-run double.
Leading 20-1 at the time, the Mavs were able to tack on two more runs in the fourth as Bradford, Sharp and Arrieta all singled before Jorissen, who moved to the pitcher spot for the top of the fourth, hit a sacrifice fly, two players before reserve
Dakota DiPaola singled in Sharp for the final run of the game.
Marisa Nehm recorded her first collegiate win in the circle, tossing three innings while giving up just four hits and a walk. Jorissen tossed the final two innings, giving up just one hit.
The Mavs finished with 19 hits and took advantage of eight more walks throughout the game as Arrieta and Bradford both went 3-for-3. Sharp was also 2-for-2 with three walks and five runs scored, matching a school-record held by Brooke Hodgson and Shelby Meilinger.
The two teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday, starting at 11 a.m.
