COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa University Softball Team was able to start their series against the Mountain Lions of UCCS on a high note this afternoon as they won both of their games in the first double header of the weekend at Mountain Lion Field.
Playing a pair of games with opposite margins, the Mavericks won game one by a score of 5-1 in a pitching duel before closing out their day with a run rule victory in game two by a score of 13-2 in five innings.
Leading the Mavericks on the day was freshman Brynn Escobar who hit three home runs with six RBIS. Two of her home runs came in game one with her totaling two hits in each contest. Her efforts complimented two Maverick pitchers who both pitched complete games.
Colorado Mesa improves to 20-8 (18-4 RMAC) following today's results with the Mountain Lions moving to 20-12 (14-7 RMAC).
The series will continue tomorrow at 11 A.M. when each team faces off twice more for the final double header of the weekend. Streaming for both games can be found on the RMAC Network with live stats also available to follow along with online.
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (CMU 5, UCCS 1):
Opening the series with a pitcher's duel, the Mavericks worked their way to a tough 5-1 victory in game one as they relied on solid pitching from Jessalyn Gallegos once again.
Gallegos went all seven innings in the win improving to 9-1 as she only allowed six hits and one run (unearned) while striking out nine.
Gallegos' was matched by UCCS's Kailey Bond for much of the game with her also going a complete game for the Mountain Lions and striking out the Mavs 10 times. Of her five runs given up only three of them were earned.
The two recorded three scoreless frames to start the game before the Mavs made their attack.
Serving as Bond's kryptonite in the matchup was freshman Brynn Escobar who hit two home runs against her with all three of the Mavs' RBIs. Escobar broke open the scoring in the third inning with a two-run home run to give CMU the lead with her then following up with another home run in the sixth inning on a solo shot.
Leading 3-0 the Mavs added a couple more runs in the seventh inning from a pair of defensive miscues from the Mountain Lions. They added their fourth run on a dropped fly ball by the third basemen with the fifth then coming from a first and third steal. Westmoreland and Escobar were the two to record the runs that inning with each of them reaching on walks.
Attempting their first shutout of the season, the Mavs unfortunately conceded one run in the bottom of the seventh after a pair of singles brought runners on base and an error allowed one Mountain to score.
Gallegos ended any hopes of a comeback shortly after by striking out the last batter of the game.
Colorado Mesa totaled six hits in the win with the pair of Escobar and Bella Aragon leading the team with two each. Chloe Valdez and Kamdyn Hagerty each had one to compliment them. In addition, Escobar, Makayla Westmoreland and Khloe Kubitschek each recorded one stolen base apiece.
GAME 2 (CMU 13, UCCS 2; 5 inn.):
After what was a tense showdown in game one of the day, the Mavericks had a different look in game two as they used a high powered offensive approach to handily beat the Mountain Lions in just five innings.
Initially going down 2-0 in the first inning from a walk, double and single the Mavs then scored 13 unanswered runs the rest of the game.
Scoring eight of those 13 runs in the second inning, Colorado Mesa brought 12 batters up to the plate with 10 of them reaching base. All hits recorded in the frame were singles with the company of Jackie Oster, Tegan Medina, Makayla Westmoreland, Brynn Escobar and Khloe Kubitschek each hitting one.
Adding two more runs in the third inning was Ally Distler who hit her 10th bomb of the season on a two-run shot. She was then followed by Escobar who hit yet another home run on the day with a solo shot in the fourth.
Still not satisfied with 11 runs, the Mavs made a final attack in the top of the fifth inning with Ava Stephens, Westmoreland and Valdez each hitting doubles.
Following the two runs and two hits in the first inning, UCCS was only able to muster two more hits the entire game with starter Sohpia Tassinari stifling the Mountain Lion batters in her complete game performance.
Tassinari finished with a stat line of five inning pitched, four hits, two runs, three walks and two strikeouts en route to her fifth win of the season.
Leading the Mavs' 11 hit production was Westmoreland and Escobar with each of them having multi-hit days. Westmoreland led all players with her going 3-4 and Escobar going 2-4. Eight different players recorded hits for the team as well. Distler and Escobar had three RBIs each.
