GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa University Softball Team concluded their home opening weekend of conference play today with the Mavericks splitting two games against Regis University in their final day of the series.
In the two games, the Mavs played to similar results as yesterday as they took one loss and one win, being defeated in game one 3-0, before winning game two 8-3.
They conclude the weekend going 2-2 and move to 4-6 overall on the season while Regis drops to 3-10 (2-2 RMAC).
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (CMU 0, Regis 3):
Opening the day the Mavericks struggled to find their offensive rhythm as they suffered a 3-0 loss in game one and were shutout for the third time this season.
Stellar pitching from both teams allowed for the game to be scoreless for the first four innings before timely hitting from Regis allowed for them to take the lead in the fifth and never look back.
In that fifth inning, the Rangers tacked on three hits and were able to grab two runs as Abby Larsen knocked in two RBIs on a crucial two out knock.
Following then in the sixth, the Rangers were able to grab another run from the Mavs as Isabella Porter launched a solo homerun to make the game 3-0.
The limited offense from the Rangers was enough to keep the Mavs at bay as Colorado Mesa only managed three hits the entire game and only had runners in scoring position twice.
The Rangers' pitcher, Hallie Crappell went the distance in the win as she pitched a complete game shutout with her final stat line finishing at seven innings pitched, three hits, zero runs and three strikeouts.
Of the three hits managed off Crappell, Myah Arrieta, Brynn Escobar and Makayla Westmoreland each went 1-3 with both Escobar and Westmoreland each having a double.
Earning the loss for Colorado Mesa was Jessalyn Estrada who went five innings pitched while giving up eight hits with all three runs on one walk and five strikeouts.
Sophia Tassinari pitched the final two innings in relief of shutout ball.
GAME 2 (CMU 8, Regis 3):
Responding from a tough offensive performance in game one, the Mavs' bats were woken up in game two of the day as they exploded for 10 hits en route to an 8-3 win.
Starting the game the Mavs went down early 2-0 in the first inning as the Rangers scored two runs on a sacrifice fly and some defensive miscues, but Colorado Mesa was able brush that deficit off quickly, as they responded right away with Distler hitting her team-leading fifth homerun in the bottom of the first on a two-run shot.
Jackie Oster would then add to that lead in the second as she drove in an RBI single to make the game now 3-2.
In the third the offensive attack continued as the Mavs successfully brought home another two runs on a suicide squeeze bunt by Chloe Valdez and a sacrifice fly by Jessalyn Gallegos.
Leading 5-2 the Mavs still weren't satisfied as a pair of doubles in the fifth inning by Makayla Westmoreland and Oster added two more runs to push the lead to five.
The Rangers were able to grab a run back in the top of the sixth inning to shrink the lead, but a solo shot homerun from Myah Arrieta in the bottom of the inning regained the five-run lead.
Marisa Nehm got the start in the circle for the Mavs going two innings, before she was relieved by Kamdyn Hagerty who went the final five in her first appearance of the season to earn the win. The two combined to hold Regis to just eight hits and three runs while striking out five.
Arrieta, Distler, Westmoreland and Oster all finished the game with two hits apiece to lead the team with both Distler and Oster collecting two RBIs each.
Colorado Mesa will now turn to the road this next week when they head to the Mile High City to take on MSU Denver for four conference games. Games are set for Saturday Feb. 22 and Sunday Feb. 23 at Assembly Athletic Complex with a 12 PM start on Saturday and an 11 AM start on Sunday.
