GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – On a day full of high emotions and much celebration the Colorado Mesa University Softball Team played their way to series win over Chadron State University afternoon, splitting the doubleheader and winning the series 3-1 at CMU Softball Field.
Winning their seventh series of the season, the Mavericks won by a score of 8-0 today in a six-inning shutout in game three with them then dropping game four 6-0 in a shutout as well.
The Mavs are now 34-12 (32-8 RMAC) on the season with them sitting at a tie for second place in the conference standings with Colorado Christian. Both schools are just half a game back of MSU Denver who is in first place with a conference record of 32-7.
Chadron State falls to 18-28 (14-26 RMAC) following this weekend with them being eliminated from postseason play.
In addition to the results, the Mavs also recognized their four seniors in between games with the group of Myah Arrieta, Preslee Christensen, Ally Distler and Chloe Valdez all being honored.
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (CMU 8, CSC 0; 6 inn.):
Playing to their third shutout of the season, the Mavs emphatically won game one of the day as they relied on a trio of seniors to bolster an offense that made the game end in just six innings of play.
Prior to the short ending, the first three and half innings of play had a much different outlook for the game as there were no runs scored in that period with only three hits total being managed.
It was then in the bottom of the fourth inning that the Mavs finally made their push to get on the board as Chloe Valdez did the work herself with the senior hitting a solo home run.
Getting just one run in the fourth inning, the Mavs then scored seven more runs unanswered over the next two innings.
In the fifth they relied on Ally Distler to bring in another run on a fielder's choice groundball for Bella Aragon to score with Myah Arrieta then using aggressive base running on that play to score as well.
Leading 3-0, the Mavs then made their biggest push of the day in the final sixth inning with five more runs coming around to score.
Scoring the first run was Khloe Kubitschek who drove in one on an RBI single to left field.
Following the Kubitschek hit and getting to a bases loaded scenario the Mavs were just four runs away from a run-rule decision with a home run ending the game in one swing.
Making just that swing to follow was none other than Arrieta for the Mavs as the senior unloaded for a grand slam home run to right center to decisively finish the game and seal the shutout.
Being supported well by her offense in the later innings was Jessalyn Gallegos who pitched to her first shutout of the season with the win as the redshirt freshman improved to 17-2. Gallegos gave up just two hits to the Eagles in her outing while striking out five.
Arrieta led all players with four RBIs in her 1-3 day with Distler, Valdez and Kubitschek having the other three RBIs. Each of those players finished with one hit apiece while Cailyn Parsons was the only Maverick on the squad to record a multi-hit game going 2-3.
GAME 2 (CMU 0, CSC 6):
Riding on a high note from the shutout to start the day, the Mavs saw themselves flip roles in the final game of the series as they were stunned in a shutout themselves, falling 6-0.
Totaling just three hits of offense and seemingly not able to break through the seal, the Mavs struggled against Chadron State's Kenzi Garner who went the distance for the Eagles. Garner went all seven innings of the game while walking two and striking out two as she only went five batters over the minimum in her effort.
Colorado Mesa used five pitchers of their own to combat the Eagle's pitching but ultimately saw the game get out of their reach after allowing four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Christensen earned the loss for the Mavs as she went five innings in her start while allowing six hits and two runs. Past the fifth inning Sophia Tassinari, Marisa Nehm and Kamdyn Hagerty all saw time in the circle to follow.
The Eagles scored runs in the first, fifth and seventh innings of the game with their lead slowly increasing until the determining seventh inning.
The Mavs attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh to break the shutout by having two runners reach base but unfortunately fell short as they fell victim to a fly out to end the game.
Owning the three hits on offense for Colorado Mesa were Makayla Westmoreland, Olivia Litzen and Hagerty.
The Eagles in contrast totaled 14 hits of offense with five different players having multi-hit games.
UP NEXT
Playing just one more regular season series, the Mavs head to South Dakota this next weekend as they take on Black Hills State for four games. Games are set for a Friday/Saturday series with action beginning on Friday April 25, at noon.
