GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Trading results in a pair of tightly-battled contests, the Colorado Mesa University softball team played to a day one split against Fort Lewis College this afternoon on a stormy day at CMU Softball Field.
The Mavericks were initially defeated in a 4-2 loss to begin the day with them then rallying back late in game two to finish the nightcap with a 10-7 win.
Their win in game two snapped a five-game losing streak with the Colorado Mesa now being 9-5 when at home this season.
The Mavs keep their .500 record after the day with them now sitting at 19-19 on the season and improving to 18-12 in the RMAC. The Skyhawks move to 8-32 (7-23 RMAC).
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (FLC 4, CMU 2):
The Skyhawks claimed their first win against CMU since 2023 in the opening game of the day as one home run proved to be the difference maker in an otherwise pitching dominant matchup.
That home run came in the second inning of the game with the long ball being a grand slam.
The Skyhawk's only runs of the day came in that inning with only two innings in the entire game featuring scoring.
The Mavs' two runs came during that second inning as well and also in the third.
The Mavs' lone run in the second came on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Cailynn Parsons.
Sitting at 4-1 in favor of the Skyhawks, the game then featured a 30-minute lightning delay in the middle of the third inning with storms being in the area all day long.
The Mavs regrouped after the delay to then score their final run in the third on a RBI double from Kamdyn Hagerty.
The final eight frames of the game then featured zeros to follow with both pitchers keeping each offense at bay.
The Mavs were able to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh for a chance at a walk off or to force extra innings but saw the final two batters be retired as the Skyhawks claimed the victory.
Only two pitchers were used in the game with Sophia Tassinari completing her 10th game of the season and allowing just six hits and four runs while walking one and striking out one.
She was narrowly outdueled by Fort Lewis' Hailie Mann who went the distance as well and allowed just seven hits and two runs over her complete game effort.
Of the Mavs' seven hits Molli Magaña led the way with two herself while five others had one apiece.
GAME 2 (CMU 10, FLC 7):
Bouncing back in an offensive battle, the Mavs were able to close out the day with a win as they rallied to overtake the Skyhawks late in a game that featured four crooked numbers.
The only innings that didn't feature scoring were the first and seventh with there also being three frames of four runs or more being scored.
Molli Magaña opened up the scoring in the game with her driving in four runs for the Mavs in the second inning thanks to a grand slam to centerfield.
This was her first grand slam of her collegiate career with her now owning six four-baggers on the year.
The Skyhawks also got their first run of the day via home run with them hitting a solo shot in the third inning from Mia Cueva.
Colorado Mesa scored in that third inning as well with TK Landes hitting an RBI single to centerfield to regain the run.
The Skyhawks continued to keep tacking at the lead though as they scored again in the fourth on another home run and an RBI single.
They later added three more runs to overtake the lead in the fifth inning on a defensive miscue and a pair of RBI singles.
The Mavs trailed 7-5 now after owning the early lead but made their final push to overtake the Skyhawks one last time in the sixth inning with them scoring five runs.
CMU did all of their damage with two outs during the inning as they loaded the bases following the first two batters of the frame getting out.
Khloe Kubitschek singled to center field to drive in two runs to begin the rally with April Neill adding a double down the left field line for another pair.
Cailynn Parsons then added one more single to center field to score the fifth run with the Mavs coming back to lead the game 10-7.
Colorado Mesa ended the game in just four batters in the top of the seventh to claim the victory.
The Mavs outhit the Skyhawks 10-8 while also owning nine walks.
Magaña once again led the offense in this game going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Kubitschek and Neill both added two RBIs as well to bolster the offense.
Sophia Tassinari earned the win in relief while going the final 2.2 innings and allowing just two runs. She improves her season-long record to 11-10.
Tassinari came in on relief of Marisa Nehm who went the first 4.1 innings of the game in her start.
UP NEXT:
The Mavs and Skyhawks will continue the series tomorrow when they take part in another double header starting at 11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at cmumavericks.com/tickets
