SPEARFISH, S.D. – Preslee Christensen pitched six strong innings in a bounce back effort from a game one loss as the Colorado Mesa University Softball Team played to an opening day split against the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets this afternoon at Yellow Jacket Field.
In the first of the final two doubleheaders of the regular season, the Mavericks played to both a win and a loss today with them dropping game one of the series in a 5-1 decision before slugging their way back to even with a 14-1 win in game two.
The Mavericks are now 35-13 (33-9 RMAC) on the season with the Yellow Jackets moving to 27-23 (25-17 RMAC). Colorado Mesa sits in third place in the conference standings with the loss today but can still reach first depending on results around the league with MSU Denver and Colorado Christian.
The series will continue and conclude tomorrow as both teams face off against each other twice more for a final doubleheader. Game time is set for 11 A.M. with the final game of the series to follow right after. Streaming for both games can be found on the RMAC Network with live stats also available to follow along with.
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (CMU 1, BHSU 5):
Falling after a late rally by the Yellow Jackets, the Mavericks dropped game one of the series as they struggled to build on their early lead against one of the league's top pitchers.
Facing Black Hills State's Laci Peskey, the Mavs only managed four hits in the game while striking out nine times.
In the early coming of the game the score was zero to zero after the first inning with the Mavs then jumping out to grab their lone run of the day in the second inning.
Olivia Litzen drove in Chloe Valdez with an RBI double in that inning, but beyond her hit the offense was scarce the rest of the contest.
The third and fourth innings remained scoreless as well with the Yellow Jackets finally coming around to score five unanswered runs in the fifth and six innings.
In the fifth two of those runs came from an RBI double and a single with the three-run spot in the sixth inning then coming from a three-run home run.
The Mavs were able to get a runner on to start the seventh inning for a chance at a comeback but couldn't build upon it as the next three batters were retired in order.
Beyond Litzen's hit in the second the only other hits to come from Colorado Mesa were by Myah Arrieta, Cailynn Parsons and Khloe Kubitschek. Arrieta had a triple as her hit to be the only other extra base hit.
Taking the loss in the circle was Jessalyn Gallegos who went 5.1 innings in her start. She gave up all five runs with eight hits while striking out three in just her third loss of the season. Gallegos was relieved of her duties in the sixth inning by Sophia Tassinari who pitched the final two outs.
GAME 2 (CMU 14, BHSU 1):
Bouncing back in the second game of the series, the Mavericks offense erupted for 14 runs in a consistent attack as they aided Preslee Christensen who took a no hitter into the sixth inning.
The Mavs scored in five innings of the game with their decisive blow being in the top of the seventh inning when they scored six runs.
Olivia Litzen proved to be the team's cog that fired the attack often as the redshirt sophomore finished with six RBIs in the game to compliment a 3-5 day.
In the scoring efforts, it was Chloe Valdez and Cailyn Parsons who scored the first two runs for the Mavs with each of them driving in a run in the first inning.
It was then Litzen in the third who added two more runs with her driving in a pair on a double.
Ally Distler and Valdez then added to the two-run inning attacks again in the fourth with each of them collecting RBIs on a sacrifice fly and a groundout.
Litzen struck with another double in the sixth inning to score two more before the Mavs broke the pattern of two-run innings in the top of the seventh.
It was in that inning that Makayla Westmoreland, Litzen and Tegan Medina all drove in runs with Medina having the most at three.
Seven different runners reached base in the seventh for Colorado Mesa.
Beyond the demoralizing attack the offense had put up all game, Christensen was stellar in her efforts as well as she finished her day with six innings pitched while giving up just one run and one hit. Prior to the sixth inning, the Yellow Jackets hadn't had a single hit all game with only three batters able to have reached base. The lone hit given up came in the sixth inning with the only run to score for the Yellow Jackets then coming via an error.
Christensen gave way to Kamdyn Hagerty to close out the game in the seventh inning with her doing so in just four batters.
Litzen all batters with her six RBIs while being complimented by Westmoreland and Parsons who each had three-hit days. Ava Stephens and Bell Aragon both added two-hit days as the offense as a whole totaled 16 hits in 38 at bats.
Myah Arrieta, Westmoreland and Stephens would each collect one stolen base apiece as well.
