Jake Richardson/Criterion

After finally entering a four game weekend with an overall record of .500, the Mesa State softball team went back to their ways by splitting another weekend series. They went 1-1 against Colorado School of Mines and 1-1 against the Mountain Lions of University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
The difference between this and any other series split: the team came out of this weekend’s games with a different attitude.
“It’s the first time all year I’ve seen the girls not intimidated by a loss, but actually mad,” coach Kris Mort said after losing 10-7 to UCCS in the final game of the series.
“I think we finally have something we can actually build on for the rest of the season.”
In game one, Sara Jordan pitched a gem with a complete game shut-out as the Mavs won the game 1-0. For the second time in three games, Jordan knocked in the only RBI in a complete game shut-out.
“I was having a rough time myself because I was just trying to work through it all,” Jordan said. “It was hard, but I kept fighting. You just have to fight through and believe your hitters will come through for you.”
The ladies lost the back end of the double header on Friday. After a late start Saturday, the bats were alive for the Mavs as they mercy-ruled UCCS, 10-2.
Whitney Bailey led the show with five RBIs including a three run home run in the fifth inning, as well as a game ending sacrifice fly for the Mavs eighth run. Jordan had another stellar performance on the mound, as she allowed two runs on three hits with four strike outs. She also went 3-3 with an RBI and two runs. The Mavs had a massive seventh-inning rally, down 10-8 with bases loaded, but they couldn’t get any runners across the plate.
Gabriella Parra continued her great season by hitting a home run in each of the two Saturday games.
“I like having Parra hitting before me,” Jordan said. “She is really good with giving me advice. She will tell me if I need to wait on it or just something to help me out. It’s comfortable.”
The team wasn’t happy after losing the fourth game of the weekend. They knew that they were a pitch or two away from being not only victorious, but being two games above the .500 mark.
It’s the first time all season that the ladies leave two consecutive weekends with at least an even record. There are only eight games remaining in the season before the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament starts May 5. Next weekend’s doubleheaders will be the final home games of the season as they will honor this year’s seniors. As for where the team stands now, nobody is worried, and they know they can, and will, do better.
“Obviously I think we can be a lot better,” Jordan said. “Splitting is going to get us into the tournament. You can’t be satisfied with it, but you have to build off of it. We are fine because we are fighting. We aren’t just lying down and dying. We are fighting.”

ahimes@mesastate.edu