GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Giving up only five runs over the course of 14 innings on the day, the Colorado Mesa University Softball Team pitched their way to success this Saturday afternoon as they swept the first two games of their four-game series with Colorado School of Mines at CMU Softball Field.

In the two games the Mavericks used just three pitchers to limit the Orediggers offense to 12 hits while striking out eight as they now move their season record to 8-8 while improving to 6-4 in the RMAC.

Beyond the stellar pitching, the Mavs were also able to rack up 17 hits on the day with three different players recording multiple hit performances.

Below is a short recap of each game:

GAME 1 (CMU 7, MINES 1):

Beginning the day on a high note, the Mavs used a strong pitching performance from Jessalyn Gallegos to propel themselves to a game one win as the redshirt freshman went the distance for Colorado Mesa throwing her third complete game of the season.

Gallegos ended the day pitching all seven innings while allowing just four hits and one run on four strikeouts to improve to 3-1 on the year and lower her ERA to a miniscule 1.80.

Aiding Gallegos' efforts on the mound offensively were the group of Myah Arrieta, Ally Distler, Chloe Valdez and Jackie Oster as each of them collected RBIs in the win. Oster led the team with two RBIs herself as she drove in a pair on her first home run of the season.

Distler helped give the Mavs the early lead in the game with an RBI double in the third inning to start the scoring on the day.

Mines retaliated and tied the game for a short time in the fourth when they drove in a run on an RBI double as well, but saw that tie be short lived as Arrieta regave the Mavs the lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single.

Leading by just one the Mavs played to a scoreless fifth inning to follow, before erupting for a five spot in the bottom of the sixth.

Arrieta scored on a wild pitch that inning with Valdez hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in the next run before Oster hit the two-run jack.

Distler added the final run to follow on yet another wild pitch by the Orediggers.

The Mavs totaled 10 hits in the game with seven players collecting at least one apiece. Arrieta went 3-3 to lead the squad with Bella Aragon being the only other player to record multiple hits as she went 2-3.

GAME 2 (CMU 5, MINES 4):

In the second game of the day, the Mavs trailed for three innings of the contest but ultimately saw timely hitting and luck come their way as they defeated Mines 5-4.

Beginning early the Orediggers were able to capture the lead in the top of the second inning as they successfully pulled off a first and third steal to give them the 1-0 lead.

Colorado Mesa got that run back and more soon after as Jessalyn Gallegos singled in the bottom of the second inning to drive in a run before the Mavs then successfully pulled off their own first and third trickery bringing in a second run to lead 2-1.

Mines retaliated over the next two innings in response as they added two runs in the third on a two RBI double and then added another run on an RBI single in the fourth to retake the lead and have a 4-2 advantage.

The fifth inning saw no action, despite a close home run call being ruled foul for the Orediggers, before Colorado Mesa made their rally in the sixth.

Opening the inning with a pair of singles from both Chloe Valdez and Makayla Westmoreland, the Mavs tacked on their first run following a fielding error thanks to Khloe Kubitscheck's bunt before ultimately bringing up Myah Arrieta who delivered the two-run double.

Arrieta's hit came as a towering infield double with the Orediggers' losing the ball in the sun and allowing two runners to score and Arrieta to reach all the way to second base.

Leading now 5-4, the Mavs used that momentum in the top of the seventh inning to put Mines away as they retired them in order.

In the circle, Marisa Nehm earned the win in relief as she went four innings while only giving up four hits and one run to compliment starter Sophia Tassinari who went the first three innings of the game allowing three runs.

Arrieta led the team with two RBIs in the game, but it was Westmoreland who stole the show going 3-3 with two runs scored to boost the team's rally. Brynn Escobar, Valdez and Gallegos each collected one hit apiece to help pace the team's seven-hit performance.

UP NEXT

The Mavs will conclude their series with Mines tomorrow as they play their final two games of the series at CMU Softball Field with action starting at 11 A.M. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at cmumavericks.com/tickets.