The Mavericks get shut out by the Cougars in their second game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament.
Four errors by Colorado Mesa University (CMU) gave Colorado Christian University an extra advantage in their 8-0 victory.
“I think we were pressing a little bit. We just had the glimpses of okay we are getting back to us but I think we need to slow it down a little bit and relax. It is a lot of girls’ first time here and we are a very young team so I think getting used to this and experiencing this is huge. So I think by day three we will be ready to go,” redshirt senior first baseman Sarah Staudle said.
A fielding error from redshirt sophomore shortstop Ashley Bradford allowed Caitlin McCarthy to reach base. The play also allowed Stephine Day and Kenzie Middleton to advance to get into scoring position.
Kayla Middleton then flew out to redshirt senior outfielder Brooke Doumer in center field but a throwing error by Doumer allowed Ke.Middleton to score.
Sydney Reamer was able to get a hold of a pitch in the fourth inning from redshirt sophomore pitcher Ellie Smith and send it out to center field with a runner on. The Cougars then had a 4-0 lead of the Mavericks only in the first two innings.
Two runs came through in the fourth as Day singled through the left side. Ka. Middleton singled in the next inning allowing Kaelin Morkisch and Ramsey Kilgore to score. Another hit from Day allowed Morkisch to score again.
Redshirt junior pitcher Paige Adair could not get things done as she was only able to go one inning before passing the ball onto Smith. Adair gave up four hits and four runs but only had one earned run to her name. She was not able to strike out any Cougars.
The coaching staff made a call to the bullpen early bringing in Smith. Smith was able to go four innings giving up six hits, three runs, two walks and had one strike out. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Shea Mauser finished the game for the Mavericks as she struck out two batters and gave up only three hits.
While CMU had seven hits to their name it could not get the job done. CMU loaded the bases in the fourth inning trying to get something going but a determined pitcher in Sydney Rawlings was able to get out of it with no damage.
Staudle went 3-3 as she singled every time she was up to bat. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Lauren Wedman came up with two doubles and a single against Rawlings as the two were the only two Mavericks that had more than one hit.
“I was seeing the ball well today, I was seeing the ball out of her hand well and I could tell when she was, they always pitched me out, so I knew they were coming out on me. She slows her body down a little in a change up so I could see when that is coming but knowing my teammates have my back is the biggest confidence boost for me,” Staudle said.
The only other hit from CMU was a pinch hit single to third base by redshirt freshman infielder Camryn Mullen.
With the RMAC tournament being a double elimination style tournament the Mavericks will get one more chance to get to the championship game.
They will face Regis University at 1 p.m. If they win they will advance to the championship game at 3:30 taking on CCU. CMU will need to win two games against the Cougars to win the tournament.
