GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University softball team dropped two games and the weekend series to visiting Colorado Christian University, ranked ninth in the country, on Sunday at the CMU Softball Stadium.
The Mavericks lost the first game 12-0 as Cougar pitcher Kali Crandall tossed a perfect game. The Mavs then lost the second, 7-1 as
Ava Fugate hit a solo home run for the Mavericks, who recognized five departing players, who have won a combined ten conference titles in their CMU careers, during Senior Day festivities in between the games, the last home contests of the season.
CCU improved to 48-4 overall and to 38-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play after winning the series, 3-1. The Mavericks fell to 27-20 and to 25-14 in the RMAC.
The Mavs are now in fourth place in the RMAC standings, but just a half-game behind Regis (25-13 RMAC), which dropped both games of a doubleheader to MSU Denver, which surged past both the Rangers and Mavs into second place with a 24-12 conference record. The Roadrunners and Rangers will play another doubleheader on Monday.
The Mavs are also 1 ½ games ahead of the Colorado School of Mines, which swept a doubleheader at New Mexico Highlands to move to 23-15 in conference play. The Mavs will play at Mines to close out the regular season next Friday and Saturday at the Orediggers Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field in Golden.
In the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, the Cougars scored single runs in the first and second innings before putting up three runs in the fourth. They then scored seven in the top of the fifth.
Meanwhile, Crandall struck out eight Mavericks while retiring all 15 she faced to improve to 24-2 on the season.
After recognizing fifth-year seniors
Ashley Bradford and
Brandi Haller and fourth-year redshirt juniors
Sarah Jorissen,
Iliana Mendoza and
Aislyn Sharp, the Mavericks then fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning in Game 2 as Savannah Tourville hit an RBI double.
However, Fugate hit her eighth home run of the season two plays later to tie the game at 1 in the bottom of the first.
The Cougars shook it off and proceeded to score three runs in the top of the second to seize control of the game. They also added two more runs on a Sami Edwards homer in the fourth and capped the scoring on a Mikayla Oaks homer with two outs in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Abrie Castillo spread seven hits and two walks to earn the complete game win from the circle.
Sharp went 2-for-4 to lead the Mavericks from the lead-off spot in the lineup.
CMU had chances to score but left runners on base in six of the seven innings and nine in total.
Hannah Sattler allowed just four hits and three runs in six innings of relief in Game 2 after throwin 3 2/3 innings in the Game 1 start.
