LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – The Colorado Mesa University softball team dropped a pair of games to nationally ranked opponents this afternoon at the DII West Coast Challenge at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.
The Mavericks fell to No. 3 Western Washington University and No. 14 Cal State San Marcos in their day two action of the tournament with these being their first ranked opponents of the season.
Colorado Mesa currently owns a 1-5 record with them facing schools from the CCAA, PacWest and the GNAC conference so far this year.
Below is a short recap of each game.
GAME 1 (#3 WWU 7, CMU 5):
Colorado Mesa saw themselves take a tough loss against a top five nationally ranked team to start their day as they fell victim to a sixth inning rally after leading for over half of the game.
The Mavs led early in the contest with them tacking on three runs in the second inning thanks to a pair of back-to-back doubles.
Paige Pierce and Makayla Westmoreland were both able to work walks to open the frame with Cailynn Parsons and Ava Stephens then delivering the consecutive doubles.
The Vikings responded soon after though as they delivered a two-run home run in the top of the third inning to bring it to a one-run differential.
The Mavs snagged another run back in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch with them then working around some trouble in the fourth to allow just one run to the Vikings.
Khloe Kubitschek extended on the Mavs lead in the fifth inning to follow as she hammered a solo shot home run to make the score 5-3.
The Mavs looked to be in control the rest of the game but strong offensive retaliation in the top of the sixth inning saw the Vikings score four runs and have seven different runners reach base. Colorado Mesa was guilty of two errors in that inning as well.
The Mavs managed two hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to look for a potential rally but were thrown out trying to extend a play to end the game.
CMU finished with seven hits with the trio of Allison Lindsay, Parsons and Stephens each having a double.
Marisa Nehm was tagged with the loss after relieving Kamdyn Hagerty who started the first four innings and allowing just three runs on four hits.
Sophia Tassinari went the final 1.2 innings of the game after Nehm.
GAME 2 (#14 CSUSM 11, CMU 2):
Attempting to bounce back in game two, the Mavs fell to host school of the tournament, Cal State San Marcos, in their evening contest with nine runs in the final two innings being the deciding factor.
For the first five innings the Mavs and Coyotes played to a tight pitcher's duel with the score being just 2-1 and featuring only two innings of scoring.
The Mavs scored their run during that time in the third inning with Molli Magana recording a sacrifice fly to get CMU on the board first.
San Marcos responded getting their runs in a different fashion as they hit a pair of solo home runs in the fourth inning.
The fifth inning was a clean frame for both squads as the pitcher's battle continued but the momentum changed in the sixth inning as the Coyotes scored six runs on seven hits.
Olivia Litzen was able to get a run back in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded catcher's interference call, but the Coyotes continued their attack by scoring three more runs in the top of the seventh.
Sophia Tassinari was credited with the loss after going 5 1/3 innings pitched and allowing five runs. Prior to the sixth inning she held the Coyotes to just four hits while having two, 1-2-3 innings.
Jackie Oster led the offense going 2-3 while the Mavs in total recorded eight hits. Magaña and Lister had the team's only two RBIs.
UP NEXT
Colorado Mesa will conclude their weekend at the DII West Coast Challenge tomorrow when they play two more games against both No. 17 Cal State East Bay and Vanguard University. Times are set for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. MST.
