GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa and Regis played two softball games with lots of nervy late-inning drama, and one game went each team's way as the clubs split a series-opening doubleheader in Grand Junction.
Iliana Mendoza beat out an infield single to score
Rylee Crouch and allow the Mavericks to walk off the first game with a 5-4 win before CMU left the bases loaded in the final inning of game two, which Regis won 3-2.
The split puts the Mavericks at 26-15 overall and 24-9 in the RMAC. The second-place Mavericks remain just ahead of third-place MSU Denver (26-16, 22-9) for now, pending the Roadrunners' results against first-place Colorado Christian this weekend.
In the first game, Regis opened the scoring against Maverick starter
Hannah Sattler by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the third inning. But the Mavericks answered with a two-run double by
Sarah Jorissen in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Aislyn Sharp had a pair of RBI hits in the first game, extending the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in the fourth and then again to 4-2 with a solo home run to left, her sixth of the season.
The Rangers extended the game a half-inning further with a clutch two-out, two-run single by Sienna Reed to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh,
Rylee Crouch hit a one-out double to right center off Regis reliever Abby Covington. After Jorissen struck out, up stepped Mendoza, who already had a pair of singles to her name on the day. Mendoza hit a check-swing dribbler to shortstop that the speedy Mavs center fielder was able to narrowly beat out to first base. With two outs in the inning, Crouch never stopped running and scored from second by sliding under the tag at home to end the game.
Hannah Sattler threw five innings of two-run ball for the Mavericks in the first game.
Marisa Nehm received the win after pitching the final two innings, also giving up two runs.
Nehm was given the start in game two, and once again it was Regis breaking the ice in the top of the second when Abby Larsen tripled and scored on a groundout to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks answered in the third when
Makayla Westmoreland doubled down the right field line, Sharp reached on a dropped fly ball and
Ashley Bradford singled up the middle, bringing Westmoreland around to score. Unfortunately, bad luck thwarted CMU's chances for a big inning as Jorissen lined into a double play that left Sharp no chance to get back to second base before
Brandi Haller flew out to end the inning.
The Rangers took the lead in the fifth off Jorissen, who relieved Nehm on the mound after four innings. Back-to-back walks each came around to score on a two-run double by Olivia Wick, and the Regis pitching duo of Vanessa Candito and Covington held the Mavs to one run through the first six innings of play.
Ashley Bradford immediately planted thoughts of a comeback by leading off the seventh with a home run while Jorissen followed with a double. Regis brought in Katherine Raper in relief, who got two outs but walked two batters, including Mendoza on an eight-pitch at-bat with two outs. Regis made yet another move to the bullpen, bringing it Kylie Harpman with two outs and the bases loaded in a one-run game, just a couple hours after Harpman pitched 5.1 innings in game one. Freshman catcher
Olivia Litzen worked the count full but grounded out to first base to allow the Rangers to hang on.
Between both games, Nehm pitched six innings, giving up eight hits and three runs with two walks and two strikeouts. In relief in game two, Jorissen pitched three innings, giving up two runs on just one hit with three walks and two strikeouts.
The two times will play twice more on Sunday in what will be another important softball day for the RMAC with the top four teams playing one another. Colorado Christian and MSU Denver will complete their four-game series tomorrow while the Mavs and Rangers are scheduled to play at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
