CHADRON, Neb. – The Colorado Mesa University softball team split their opening doubleheader with the Chadron State College Eagles this afternoon on a windy day at CSC Softball Field.
The Mavericks were able to rally back and win game one 9-5 to begin their day before falling in the high-scoring night cap, 13-10.
A total of 11 combined home runs were hit during the two games as well with swirling winds being a large factor in both team's offenses.
Colorado Mesa moves to 22-24 (21-17 RMAC) with the split decision while Chadron State now sits at 6-41 (6-32 RMAC) with the game two win being their second in two weeks.
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (CMU 9, CSC 5):
Rallying back from a 5-0 deficit, the Mavs scored nine unanswered runs to top the Eagles to begin their day as they scored every run via long ball to get back in the win collum.
Five different Mavs were responsible for the home runs with all of the scoring for Colorado Mesa happening between the fifth and seventh innings as they previously only had three hits through the first four innings.
The Eagles struck first in the game with them tacking on one run in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of hits.
Colorado Mesa was able to load the bases with one out in the second inning for a chance to retaliate but couldn't capitalize as Eagle pitching forced two pop outs to end the frame.
Chadron State later struck again in the bottom of the third, adding three more runs to their lead as they totaled three hits while also taking advantage of a CMU error.
They scored their final run of the day in the fourth inning but never saw any more runs come to the plate as the Colorado Mesa offense began their charge the rest of the way.
TK Landes was the first to start the attack with her hitting a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 5-1.
The Mavs then scored three more runs in the sixth inning with Molli Magaña hitting another solo home run and Cailynn Parsons following her up with a two-run shot as well.
The game sat at 5-4 in favor of the Eagles now with Colorado Mesa coming down to their last out in the top of the seventh but not before Makayla Westmoreland would change that as she hammered a three-run home run to take the lead.
Colorado Mesa didn't stop there either as two batters later Allison Lindsay would knock a two-run home run herself to push the lead to four and allow the Mavs to own the new 9-5 advantage.
Only one batter for Chadron was able to reach base in the bottom of the seventh as they were retired shortly after to give the Mavs the comeback win.
Colorado Mesa out hit the Eagles 12-11 in the victory while six different players recorded those hits. Lindsay and Parsons would also lead that bunch with each of them finishing 3-for-4.
Marisa Nehm earned the win in relief in the circle going the final 4.2 innings and only allowing one run on four hits.
GAME 2 (CSC 13, CMU 10):
Trying to keep the momentum going in game two, the Mavs ultimately fell in a slugfest to end the day as they dropped a battle which featured 23 runs and 25 hits.
Six of the seven innings had runs scored in them with each team having three home runs apiece.
Chadron scored six runs in the first inning though which eventually gave them enough of a cushion in the end to hold on to after Colorado Mesa threatened to rally again.
The Mavs initially opened the game with three runs in the top of the first on a two-run error and an RBI single from Makayla Westmoreland to start ahead but saw that lead come to an end quickly after as the six-run bottom frame gave Chadron the advantage.
Colorado Mesa then tied it up in the top of the second on a pair of home runs from Molli Magaña and Cailynn Parsons to make it 6-6 but once again the Eagles came back to score with them tallying three runs as well.
The third inning was the only one without any runs in the game as the fourth through seventh had at least one run minimum.
Chadron scored two more runs in the fourth on a wild pitch and a single to now lead 11-6.
An error allowed Paige Pierce to return a run for the Mavs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Eagles matched that run in the bottom of the frame as well.
A solo shot home run by Chadron in the bottom of the sixth was their final run of the day as they went into the top of the seventh with a six-run lead.
Two runners reached base with Magaña then hitting a three-run home run to make it closer but ultimately a pop out to third base would end the game.
Magaña had two home runs and three total in the day with her now sitting at 11 overall on the season to lead the Mavs.
She finished 3-for-5 to pace the Mavs while the group of Allison Lindsay, Pierce and Khloe Kubitschek each had two hits apiece.
Lacie Rodabaugh was charged with the loss in her start while Marisa Nehm had another extended relief appearance going 5.2 innings.
UP NEXT:
The Mavs and Eagles will continue the series tomorrow when they take part in another double header starting at 2 p.m.
