BLOOMFIELD, N.M.— Redshirt junior Ally Distler recorded the first four and five overall RBIs helping lift the Colorado Mesa University softball team to a Sunday doubleheader and weekend series sweep over Fort Lewis College here at Bloomfield High School.

Distler drove in all three Maverick runs in the 3-2 first game win, hitting a go-ahead 2-run home run to deep center field in the sixth inning and then added two more RBIs in the Mavs' 9-1 mercy-rule victory in the series finale.  Fifth-year senior Iliana Mendoza and sophomore Makayla Westmoreland also homered in that game as the Mavs moved to 6-4 overall while sweeping their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference series of the campaign.

FLC fell to 2-11 overall and 0-4 in conference play despite out-hitting the Mavs in both games of Sunday's doubleheader.

The Mavs were able to take an early 1-0 lead in the first game of Sunday's twin-bill manufacturing a run after Myah Arrieta drew a lead-off walk before stealing second.  Arrieta then moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Distler sacrifice fly.

The Skyhawks then took a 2-1 lead on back-to-back Hannah Rutherford and Emalynn Redmann singles in the bottom of the second.

Meanwhile, FLC pitcher Aimee Shanks held the Mavs without a hit through five innings, although the Mavs did strand a runner on third base in the fifth, their only runner left on base of the whole game.

Momentum then turned in the Mavs' favor in the sixth as Mendoza beat out a bunt single, helping set the table for Distler's second home run in as many days.

Relief pitcher Preslee Christensen, who had entered for the top of the fifth, then got out of a 2-on, 1-out jam in the bottom half of the inning with a strikeout and flyout before setting down the Skyhawks in order in the bottom of the seventh to earn her second win of the season.  She allowed just one hit and struck out five Skyhawks in three innings of work.

FLC out-hit the Mavs, 6-2, but managed just six singles while leaving seven runners on base.

The Skyhawks went on to record ten singles in the second game, but again watched the Maverick used some timely and extra-base hits as well as speed and small ball to post the game's first nine runs over four consecutive innings.

The Mavs scored the first two runs in the third as Westmoreland singled and stole second before Mendoza beat out a bunt single while swiping second as well.  Arrieta was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs before Distler hit a sacrifice fly to plate Westmoreland.

Miranda Pruitt and Jackie Oster then drew back-to-back walks as the Maverick lead grew to 2-0.

In the fourth, Westmoreland hit a 1-out double before a 2-run Mendoza home run extended the lead to 4-0.

An inning later, Distler doubled and stole third while Pruitt drew a walk.  Oster then delivered a sacrifice fly to score Distler and extend the lead to 5-0 through 4 ½ innings.

The Mavs then tacked on four runs in the sixth Westmoreland began the barrage with a lead-off home run.

Mendoza then singled and scored all the way from first when the Skyhawks' centerfield was not able to field a Arrieta fly ball.  Distler and Pruitt then added RBI groundouts later in the inning to extend the lead to 9-0.

FLC would manage to record four hits and a run in the bottom half of the inning but could not stave off the mercy rule.

Maverick sophomore Marisa Nehm improved to 2-0 with the complete game victory while Westmoreland and Mendoza both went 3-for-3 in the No. 8 and 9 spots of the Maverick lineup, which combined for nine hits, including two doubles and two home runs.

Hailie Mann fell to 0-6 after giving up nine hits, four walks and seven earned runs in five innings for FLC.

The Mavs have now won 33 of the last 34 games against the Skyhawks.

They will now turn their attention to their home-opening series against the Colorado School of Mines next Saturday and Sunday.  The Orediggers entered a 4-game Sunday/Monday format series with Chadron State with a 3-3 overall record.