CONROE, Texas – The #21 Colorado Mesa University Softball Team played to a 1-1 start to their season this afternoon as they finished their first day of action at the DII First Pitch Invitational, hosted by UT Tyler.

In their two games the Mavericks dropped their season opener to Texas Woman's University by a run-rule score of 10-1 in five-innings, before bouncing back to tightly defeat Midwestern State 3-1 in to end their day.

Below is a short summary of each game:

Texas Woman's University 10, #21 Colorado Mesa 1 (5 inn.)

In the opening game of the season, the Mavericks struggled to keep up with the Pioneers offensively as they suffered their first loss of the year leading to the game being finished in only five innings.

This was the first time the Mavs had been run-ruled since March 2 against CCU last season.

Three crooked innings served as the major blows to the Mavs with the Pioneers having two three-run innings and a decisive four-run inning in the third thanks to a grand slam by Hawwa Townsend to bury the Mavs deep early in the game.

The Mavs scored one run back in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI triple from Kamdyn Hagerty but couldn't turn any more runs in as the game would end shortly after with the Pioneers sitting down the next two batters to secure the run-rule.

Colorado Mesa finished the game with just two hits compared to the ten of Texas Woman's.

Ally Distler and Hagerty both finished the game one for two to lead the team with Hagerty collecting both her first collegiate hit and RBI in the loss.

Preslee Christensen suffered her first loss of the season in the game going 2.1 innings while giving up six hits with seven runs (five earned) and striking out two.

Marisa Nehm and Jessalyn Gallegos pitched the final 1.2 innings.

Three different players also made their Maverick debut for the team with Hagerty, Khloe Kubitscheck and Gallegos all seeing the field.

#21 Colorado Mesa 3, Midwestern State 1

Rebounding from a tough loss, the Mavs saw a much improved performance in game two of the day as they secured their first win of the season in a 3-1 victory over Midwestern State.

Colorado Mesa led 1-0 early in the game after scoring on a single by Chloe Valdez in the first inning before the Mustangs tied it back up in the third on a solo home run by Camile Nunez to now make it 1-1.

Valdez then came up big for her team again in response as she tacked on two more runs with an RBI double in the bottom of the third to score both Ally Distler and Makayla Westmoreland to give the Mavs the 3-1 lead and the eventual final score.

Unlike the offense that took part in the first game, the Mavs used a pitchers' duel approach in their win over the Mustangs with Sophia Tassinari going 5.2 innings in her Maverick debut giving up only four hits, one run and striking out four to start her career 1-0.

Jessalyn Gallegos closed out this game as well pitching 1.1 innings of shutout ball to earn her first career save.

Addison Lindemann of Midwestern State pitched all six innings for her team giving up three runs and striking out nine in the loss.

Both Valdez and Cailynn Parsons notched two hits in the win to lead the team, with Valdez having all three RBIs in the game.

Other Mavericks to make their collegiate debuts in this game were a trio of freshman in Ava Stephens, Brynn Escobar and Tegan Medina.

The Mavs will take part in another double header again tomorrow as they face their toughest competition of the trip when they take on #11 Angelo State University at 10:00 A.M. MST with host team #1 UT Tyler to follow at 12:30 P.M. MST. Both games will have live stats accessible to follow along with.