The Mavericks end their season as they go 1-2 in the NCAA regional tournament in Commerce, Texas.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) took a first round loss but bounced back in a loser goes home elimination game later Wednesday evening.
In game one of the NCAA Regional tournament, the Mavericks fell to Texas A&M- Commerce (TAMUC) 3-4 after failing to get the walk off win with bases loaded in the bottom half of the seventh inning.
Interim Head Coach Mercdes Bohte discussed after the game, how the team came out with the nerves getting the best of them and how it showed in the first game at the plate especially.
“We don’t play well scared and it showed with the high amount of strikeouts we had. We talked after the game about how we needed the whole team to be ready to play and not just some of us,” Bohte said.
The only run in the seventh inning CMU was able to produce was an RBI single from redshirt senior outfielder Brooke Doumer. She was able to score freshman infielder Ava Fugate closing the Lions lead to one run.
Back in the first inning of the game, redshirt junior pitcher Paige Adair gave up two home runs giving TAMUC an early two run lead.
The Mavericks finally responded at the plate as Doumer reached a throwing error from Jasmine Mott allowing CMU to put their first run on the board in the third. Redshirt freshman outfielder Drew Sims would advance to home on the play.
Another unearned run came around for the Mavericks as redshirt sophomore pitcher Ellie Smith came through with a single scoring Doumer. The Mavericks did not score again until the seventh.
Adair pitched five innings in game number one on the day before getting the start again in game two. Through her five innings pitched, Adair was able to strike out five but gave up three runs on three hits. Only two of those runs were earned.
Smith came in to finish things out and was spot on. While she did give up two walks and one run she was able to get two to strikeouts and the Maverick defense helped her out as she pitched into three groundouts.
The Mavericks came back onto the field Wednesday evening in an elimination game against Angelo State University (ASU).
CMU made a lineup change the moved redshirt senior first baseman Sarah Staudle to the clean up position in the line up and redshirt sophomore Nicole Christensen in the five hole.
“We moved her to the four spot for game two and she helped keep the momentum going for us offensively by going 4- 4. She is not a typical four hole hitter but she is a level-headed player that is going to put the ball in play and that is what the team needed in that spot for that game. I think switching Sarah with Nicole in the batting lineup helped Nicole relax. Nicole hit much better in game two and really bounced back from a very nervous game one,” Bohte said.
The Mavericks produced nine runs on 14 hits in the second game securing them another day in the NCAA tournament. Staudle led the team in hits against ASU as she went 4-4. She also had two RBIs and scored two runs herself.
Smith came up with a big bat again for CMU as she hit a two run home run in the bottom half of the first inning scoring redshirt sophomore outfielder Lauren Wedman. Wedman also came through with a big at bat of her own as she doubled scoring Sims in the second inning.
Adair was back in the circle for CMU looking to find her first win of the regional tournament. She was able to stay in the game for three innings before her counterpart in Smith came in and got the victory.
“The combination of Paige and Ellie as pitchers is hard to hit especially when we switch pitchers right before the opposing team starts their time through the lineup. The pitchers have bought in this year to being a part of a staff and working their strength pitches to help the team win, even if it is only for a few innings,” Bohte said.
With the pitching combination of Adair and Smith as well as the Mavericks offense exploding CMU was able to survive and move on.
On Friday evening after a few hours of a weather delay, TAMUC would be the Mavericks opponent yet again.
CMU lost again in another tight game with the Lions to be eliminated from the tournament.
Jasmine Mott grounded out to redshirt sophomore shortstop Ashley Bradford as Chealsea Slider was able to score.
Staudle reached on a fielder’s choice that had a throwing error by the lions second baseman. Doumer was able to score on the error. After being tied for the past inning and a half, Jasmine Mott scored again on a throwing error by Bradford.
The Mavericks were only limited to two hits in the game as the Lions racked up eight.
Adair went two and one third inning while giving up three hits and one run. Smith came in to finish the final three and two thirds of the game. She ended up with four strikeouts, two walks and giving up five hits.
With the loss Friday, the Mavericks finish their season 39-5. They will next be on the field for the 2022 season opener.
