LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – The Colorado Mesa University softball team played to a 1-1 record on the opening day of the DII West Coast Challenge this afternoon at the Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.
The Mavericks lost to Biola University by a close score of 4-3 in their morning contest before bouncing back in their second game, shutting out Cal State San Bernadino, 4-0.
The Mavs win was the first time they have earned a shutout since April 16th when they did so in a 8-0 win in six innings over Chadron State.
Their win against CSUSB was their first of the season as well as they are now 1-3.
Below is a short recap of each game.
GAME 1 (Biola 4, CMU 3):
The Mavs suffered a tough loss to start their day as they were bested by one run in a low scoring affair with a late rally falling just short.
The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead through three innings of play with them taking advantage of a first inning two-run home run and a defensive miscue in the third to back the early advantage.
The Mavs were able to get two runs back in the fourth inning though, thanks to a Brynn Escobar home run and a Molli Magaña RBI single.
After both teams put up zeros in the fifth inning the Mavs added another run in the sixth then on a TK Landes groundout following a pair of knocks to open the frame.
The Mavs were able to force the Eagles to go to their bullpen in the sixth inning with it being just a one-run differential now but were held at bay the rest of the way as Biola pitching retired the final five batters of the game in a row.
Colorado Mesa finished with five hits in the game while being paced by both Escobar and Khloe Kubitschek who each went 2-3.
Magaña had the team's other hit going 1-3.
Both teams finished with just five hits apiece.
Kamdyn Hagerty took the loss in the circle going four innings while giving up the four runs (two earned) and striking out two. Sophia Tassinari pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit.
GAME 2 (CMU 4, CSUSB 0):
The Mavs captured a 4-0 shutout in their win over the Coyotes to finish the day as they used strong pitching performances from both Sophia Tassinari and Kamdyn Hagerty to lead the team.
Tassinari, who earned the win, went four innings in her start while only allowing two hits, two walks and striking out four.
Hagerty was able to build off Tassinari's strong performance, closing out the final three innings in just 11 batters faced and striking out three. In addition, she earned the three-inning save.
The first three innings of the game kept both teams tied at zero with staunch pitching allowing just two hits combined.
The momentum shifted soon after in the fourth inning though as four CMU batters recorded hits including an Olivia Litzen RBI single which drove in the first run of the game.
The Mavs continued their attack in the fifth then after Paige Pierce was able to work a walk allowing Molli Magaña to come up and deliver a two-run homerun for her first collegiate long ball.
A final run was managed in the sixth inning on a defensive error by the Coyotes with Dakota DiPaola scoring in the chaos.
The Mavs were able to battle off rally attempts in both the fourth and sixth innings as the Coyote's reached third base in each frame, but strikeouts ended their hopes each time.
Colorado Mesa had six hits in the game with Magaña finishing 2-4 and collecting two RBIs.
TK Landes, Litzen, Tegan Medina and Jackie Oster would each have a hit apiece as well.
UP NEXT
The Mavs will continue play in the DII West Coast Challenge tomorrow now with them taking on #3 Western Washington and #14 Cal State San Marcos. Game times are set for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. MST.
