GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa University softball team swept the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets this afternoon in what was their final home games of the 2026 regular season at CMU Softball Field.
This was just the Mavericks' second series sweep of the season with them finishing conference play winning eight series and losing three.
They took both games today by scores of 6-5 and 4-1 with the first win being via walk of.
With the two wins the Mavs also locked up the No. 4 seed in the RMAC Conference Tournament which will begin next week.
They finish the regular season with an overall record of 28-24 (27-17 RMAC) while Black Hills State concludes their season entirely as they just missed out on making the conference tournament as well. They finished at 24-31 (21-23 RMAC).
The Mavs' three seniors of TK Landes, Marisa Nehm and Makayla Westmoreland would also play their final home games of their careers today as they were honored between the two games.
Below is a short recap of each game:
GAME 1 (CMU 6, BHSU 5):
In what looked like another pitching duel for the first six innings of a low-scoring affair, it was the Mavs who claimed the series win in game one of the day as they rallied to score six runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk off victory.
A total of 15 runners were left on base in the game with Colorado Mesa being guilty of eight of them but all was forgotten as the Mavs did just enough late to pull away.
The Mavs threatened to score early with them loading the bases in the bottom of the third inning and having two runners in scoring position prior with no outs, but Yellow Jacket pitching would hold them at bay as Colorado Mesa struck out three times.
It wasn't until the sixth inning that the game's first run was finally scored when the Yellow Jackets used a throwing error by Colorado Mesa to have a runner come home as they took advantage of a botched caught stealing attempt at third base.
The game looked to stay at just a one-run difference but the Yellow Jackets continued their offense in the top of the seventh then scoring four more runs.
They totaled five hits during that time while also having what looked to be an inning ending relay reversed in their favor.
The Mavs trailed 5-0 now with just three outs remaining but it seemed that is just what was needed to wake up the offense as Colorado Mesa would go on to make their push.
In their six-run seventh they recorded five hits with an eventual error being the game-winner.
Those five hits all came in order through the first five batters with Cailyn Parsons driving in the first run on single to centerfield.
Makayla Westmoreland and April Neill then followed with a pair of two RBI doubles to make it 5-4.
A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third afterwards with the Mavs using a fielder's choice to bring the game-tying run in, but after a substitute was never reported the play was ultimately ruled as an out and the baserunners returned to their places.
Luckily, Ava Stephens' ensuing at bat would end the game for good as she hit a ground ball to short stop who then threw it away to first and allowed both base runners to score for the walk off.
This was the Mavs' first walk off victory since Mar. 29 against UCCS in a 9-8 decision and just their third overall on the season.
The Mavs' win eliminated Black Hills' chances of making the conference tournament as well.
Sophia Tassinari earned the win in this game for her third consecutive decision of the weekend while improving to 15-13. She went the complete game while allowing just four earned runs and scattering 11 hits.
For the Mavs' offense, Cailynn Parsons led the way going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Molli Magaña would add two hits as well while five total players made up the eight team hits.
GAME 2 (CMU 4, BHSU 1):
Resulting in a true pitching duel this time, the Mavs secured the series sweep to end their weekend as they beat the Yellow Jackets on a dominant pitching performance and a crucial hit late in the game.
Doing the dazzling in the circle was Senior Marisa Nehm who went the complete game while allowing just five hits and one run. She earned her 12th win with the decision with her facing just six batters over the minimum.
11 in total hits were managed over the seven innings with the Mavs having the slight edge at 6-5 and hitting three of them in the game-deciding sixth.
Prior to the sixth, the game was scoreless with the big moment eventually coming off the bat of TK Landes.
After loading the bases, the Mavs saw themselves get down to two outs before one swing would change the game with Landes launching a ball over the left field wall for a go-ahead grand slam.
This was Landes' sixth home run of the season and her first grand slam of her Maverick career.
Black Hills got one run back on a solo shot in the top of the seventh to spoil the shutout but were put down to end the game over the next five batters.
Landes and April Neill both finished the game with two hits apiece to lead the squad with Molli Magaña and Paige Pierce having the other two hits.
UP NEXT:
The Mavs will now begin the postseason phase of their spring when they head to Lakewood, Colo. this next week to take part in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by Colorado Christian University. The Tournament will be a single elimination format with the conference's top six teams making it. The Mavs will find out who they play following this weekend when play around the league ends.
