Pitching and hitting. Colorado Mesa University softball pitcher McKenzie Surface does it all.
Surface pitched three shutout innings and hit a two-run home run as the Mavs took the first game on Saturday against the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls, 13-0.
CMU took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when first baseman AnnMarie Torres launched a three-run home run.
In the second inning, the Mavs increased their lead to 9-0. The inning was highlighted by third baseman Kalia Jacobi’s solo home run and a two-run home run from designated hitter Tyneesha Houkamau.
In the top of the third inning, Surface struck out two batters as the Cowgirls left two players on base. However, Surface was not done leaving her mark in the inning. Surface smacked her first career home run with a two-run blast, which increased the Mavs lead to 12-0.
The Mavs scored another run in the third to take a 13-0 lead. In the fourth inning, the Cowgirls threatened to score, but once again they stranded two players on base.
In the fifth inning, CMU pitcher Andy Hancock forced the Cowgirls’ Breanna Cabrera to hit into a double play to end the game. Surface earned her eighth win of the season. In three innings, she allowed two hits, zero runs and struck out four.
In game two of the doubleheader, the Mavs had an early lead again thanks to a sacrifice fly by Torres in the first inning. However, the Cowgirls tied the game in the second inning with a RBI single from Bayley Legarreta.
The Mavs then took the lead for good when they scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning. The six runs came in part due to Torres’ grand slam, which increased the Mavs lead to 7-1.
After two RBI sacrifice flies in the third inning, the Mavs had a 9-1 lead. In the last two innings, starting pitcher Kimbri Herring and reliever Houkamau allowed only one baserunner.
CMU won the second game, 9-1. Herring received her fourth win of the season. She went four innings, allowed two hits, one run and struck out four.
With the wins on Saturday, the Mavs are now 14-4 and have an RMAC record of 7-2. The team plays another doubleheader against Highlands tomorrow. Game one starts at 11 a.m. and game two starts at 1 p.m.
