LAS VEGAS, N.M. – After dropping game three of a four-game series (3-1), the University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team responded with a 13-1, five-inning win in the series finale against New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., to capture the series, 3-1. 
 
The Mountain Lions (8-11, 4-4 RMAC) went to work quickly, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.  Three batters into the lineup, Alex Cook hit a double to left center to score Saleen Quinonenz from first base.  Meghan Waidler followed with her first triple of the season, scoring Courtnie Heller and Cook.  She capped off the inning scoring the fourth run of the game from a passed ball.
 
Leading 4-0 after two complete innings and holding the Cowgirls to one hit, the Mountain Lions tacked on three more runs in the third inning.  With two outs and the bases loaded, NMHU made a pitching change before Bryn Horton stepped to the plate.  Horton responded with a single to the right side, scoring Waidler.   Brianna Santos drove in two more runs from a single down the right field line, driving in Morgan Hernandez-Belew and Payton Romines.
 
NMHU scored one run after collecting four hits in the third inning for their only score of the game.
 
Another three-up, three-down for pitcher Cami Duffey and the Mountain Lions defense in the fourth inning protected the Mountain Lions 7-1 lead.  UCCS wasn't finished at the plate in the fifth inning, adding six more runs off five hits to earn their first five-inning run-rule game of the season.
 
In the first three innings of Sunday's game one, UCCS was held to three-up, three-down before Alex Cook posted the Mountain Lions first hit of the game in the fourth inning, hitting a double to left field.
 
Duffey tallied her third win of the season, allowing just one earned run on six hits after facing 16 batters. 
 
Waidler, Santos, Cook and Romines each registered at least two hits in the season finale.   Waidler finished the game going 3-for-4 with four runs batted in and three runs scored.  Santos chipped in two hits and two RBI, while Cook went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
UCCS started Sunday's game one trailing 3-0 heading into the final inning. Waidler started off the seventh inning with a double to left center.  Taylor Harrison pinch ran for Waidler at second base. One out later, Harrison stole third base and immediately scored on an error by the pitcher to put one run on the scoreboard for UCCS.
 
Five batters recorded one hit each for UCCS, with three hits going for extra bases as Brianna Santos, Cook and Waidler each posted doubles.
 
Braelyne Crenshaw pitched all six innings for UCCS, allowing one earned run on five hits and striking out two batters.
 
The Mountain Lions will play host to Dixie State University March 7-8 in a four-game series at Mountain Lion Field.