LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Following a tough 4-2 loss to start their day the Colorado Mesa University Softball Team found a way to keep their RMAC Softball Championship hopes alive this afternoon as they battled their way to a hard-fought 7-2 victory over UCCS at All Star Park.

The Mavericks, who dropped their initial game to Colorado Christian this morning at 11 A.M. followed by playing in the consolation game at 4 P.M. against UCCS this afternoon with the loser of the game being eliminated.

With the win over the Mountain Lions the Mavericks advanced to day four of the tournament as they are now looking for revenge tomorrow when they take on host and #1 seed Colorado Christian University in the championship game. Both teams will face off at 11 A.M. tomorrow with Colorado Mesa needing to win twice to secure the tournament champion title as the Cougars are currently undefeated in the double elimination tournament.

This will be the third time in the last five seasons that Colorado Mesa has advanced to the championship game with their last time winning the tournament being in 2021.

In the opening game of the day against #1 seed Colorado Christian University, the Mavs fell in a 4-2 decision as they dropped into the consolation bracket.

No more than two runs were ever scored in any of the innings with the game-changing inning coming in the fourth when the Cougars scored two runs on a trio of hits and a lost fly ball in the infield. For the next 15 outs neither team was able to bring anymore runners around.

Both teams finished with seven hits in the contest, but the costly factor in the loss was the seven runners left on base by Colorado Mesa.

Khloe Kubitschek recorded a home run in the second inning to give the Mavs the early 2-1 lead, but beyond her efforts the Mavs were never able to get a runner past second base.

The Cougars started the game with a double driving in a run in the first inning with them then adding another run in the third on a loopy triple down the right field line. It was the fourth inning then that made all the difference as the Cougars scored two more runs and took the lead for good.

The Mavs challenged to come back and grab at least one run in the sixth inning but fell short as they were met by a double play to start with the Cougar pitching then working out of two consecutive hits to follow.

Colorado Mesa couldn't muster anymore offense in the seventh as they went 1-2-3 to end the game.

Jessalyn Gallegos was charged with the loss in her start as she went 3.2 innings before being relieved by Preslee Christensen in this game as well. Makayla Westmoreland and Kubitschek were the only hitters to have two hits each with only three others having one hit apiece.

In the nightcap, the Mavs responded from their morning loss with a win to eliminate the Mountain Lions as they used a pair of three-run innings to seal the deal.

Starting in the first inning and grabbing the 1-0 lead in no time to waste was Myah Arrieta for the Mavs as the Senior launched a massive solo home run to left field. This was her second time in the tournament that she led the game off with a home run in her first bat.

The second inning was held scoreless for both teams but it was then in the third inning that the game got interesting again when four total runs were scored.

Starting in the top of the inning, the Mountain Lions registered their first run of the game when they used a single, walk and a double to drive in one.

The game was now tied at one, but wouldn't stay that way for long as the Mavs scored three runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to some well executed at bats.

In that inning the trio of Bella Aragon, Arrieta and Cailyn Parsons all recorded hits for the Mavs. Arrieta drove in the first run on an RBI single with Ally Distler driving in another on a sacrifice fly and Makayla Westmoreland bringing in the third on a sacrifice bunt squeeze.

The Mountain Lions retaliated with another run in the top of the fourth inning on a passed ball but struggled to keep the momentum going as they popped up to end the frame.

Sitting as only a two-run game, the Mavs made their offense be known again in the fifth inning with this being their second three-run inning of the contest.

Working to a bases loaded situation the Mavs were able to drive in a run on an RBI walk from Kamdyn Hagerty with then a passed ball being the factor of the next two runs as Westmoreland and Distler both scored on the same play.

Working the minimum six batters over the final two innings the Mavs were able to shut down the Mountain Lions for good as they ended the ball game on a 6-4-3 double play.

Serving as a dynamic duo once again, the pair of Jessalyn Gallegos and Preslee Christensen combined in the circle for the win with Gallegos this time earning the win as she went four innings in relief and only allowed one run on five hits.

Arrieta and Parsons both went 2-4 to pace the offense while a total of only five hits were recorded. Aragon had the only other hit.