COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team suffered a pair of run-rule defeats on Sunday as the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks completed a four-game series sweep of the Mountain Lions.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 2, CMU 11 (5 innings) | Game 2: UCCS 0, CMU 9 (5 innings)
Records: UCCS (20-14, 14-9), CMU (22-8, 20-4)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mavericks lead the all-time series with 109 wins to the Mountain Lions 37 wins.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- Two straight outs for CMU began the game, but a walk and singe followed putting two runners on. It was then that Brynn Escobar poked one over the right center wall for a quick three-run homer taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning. Jacqueline Berkowitz got things going for the Mountain Lions as she reached on an error. Two batters later, Laynee Case sent one deep for a two-run homer cutting the lead to one run.
- Neither team was able to produce any real scoring threat in the second with the lone base runner of the inning being Katelyn Kilgore from a two-out double.
- CMU blew things open in the top of the third when in a two out, bases loaded situation Khloe Kubitschek hit a three RBI double. After a hit by pitch, Jackie Oster would hit a double of her own scoring two more making it 8-2. They would ultimately find two more runs after an error and another single. This gave them a 10-2 lead into the bottom of the third. The Mavericks kept the momentum with three straight outs to send things to the fourth inning.
- In the fourth, CMU would add another to their lead with a solo leadoff homer from Chloe Valdez. For the Mountain Lions, they would struggle as another three-up three-down inning got the Mavericks three outs closer to the end of the game.
- UCCS got out of a one out, bases loaded situation in the top of the fifth giving themselves a chance to force more game in the bottom half of the inning.
- The Mountain Lions would find a baserunner, but that was all, as a double play ended the inning and ultimately the game as well, 11-2.
STATS FROM GAME ONE
- Jessalyn Gallegos picks up win number 10 on the year and improves to 10-1, meanwhile Hannah Hunt takes the loss and falls to 8-3 for the season.
- The Mavericks out powered the Mountain Lions as their 10 hits and two homers bested the three hits and one homer for UCCS.
- Gallegos went all five innings for a complete game, giving up three hits and two runs while striking out two hitters and walking none.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions forced two outs to begin the game, but a walk and stolen base put a runner on second and a dropped fly ball would have that runner from second come around to score making it 1-0. The Mavericks started their defensive effort with three straight outs.
- UCCS once again began the inning by forcing two outs, but the third batter of the inning sent one over the outfield wall for a solo shot making it 2-0. That wouldn't be all as Jackie Oster doubled setting up a two-run homer for Myah Arrieta, who would make it 4-0. A Katie Steinmetz single to lead off the inning was promising, but a fielders choice and a double play swiftly sent the Mountain Lions back to the field still down four.
- Three of four batters went down in the top of the third for the Mavericks, bringing UCCS back to the plate. They would ultimately work to see a bases loaded with two outs situation. It was Gianna Pancost who put a good swing on it with two outs, but the ball was caught by the center fielder, ending the inning without slicing away at the lead.
- CMU found a baserunner in the fourth after a double but couldn't capitalize on it meaning they headed to the bottom of the fourth up four. Katie Steinmetz poked a ball through the infield for a single to lead off the Mountain Lions, but unfortunately three straight outs followed resulting in no runs.
- A walk is how the Mavericks began the top of the fifth. It wasn't long after that Khloe Kubitschek took one deep over the left field wall making it 6-0. An error and a hit put runners on first and second and just when it looked like the Mountain Lions could get out of the inning, Arrieta sent one over the left field wall for a three-run shot making it 9-0 and a must score situation for UCCS in the bottom of the fifth.
- Katelyn Kilgore and Tayler McCombs would both find singles in the bottom of the fifth, but nobody came around to score, meaning the game ended there 9-0 in favor of CMU.
STATS FROM GAME TWO
- The box score looked pretty even as CMU posed eight hits to UCCS' seven hits. Both teams left six runners on base, yet CMU managed nine runs to the Mountain Lions' zero.
- Kailey Bond was charged with the loss moving to 6-3 on the season while for CMU, Preslee Christensen secured the win, moving her back to above .500 for the season at 4-3.
- Four home runs propelled the Mavericks to victory as eight of the nine runs came from these home runs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Colorado Mesa remained in third place for conference play with a 20-4 conference record while UCCS holds on to their position in sixth with a 14-9 conference record.
- Tayler McCombs improved her season OPS to a team-high 1.215 and .724 SLG%.
UP NEXT
SOCIAL
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
