The bats came alive for the Mavericks as Fort Lewis College came to Grand Junction, Colo. this weekend.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) saw the ball well this weekend as they made good contact with the ball consistently throughout the weekend.
Redshirt junior pitcher/designated player Ellie Smith had a big weekend at the plate as she hit a grand slam in game two on Saturday afternoon. But that was not all she was able to do as she drove in ten runs on six hits this weekend. She had another home run in game four of the series that took place on Sunday afternoon.
CMU had 22 hits throughout the two games on Saturday as 14 different Mavericks were able to make contact throughout the day.
Sophomore catcher Ally Distler hit a big solo home run in the fifth inning of game one. Sophomore outfielders Mallory Warner and Illiana Mendoza both went 2-3 with Warner being able to single to center field for an RBI.
The Mavericks won game one of the series 8-1.
CMU was able to score in all five innings in game two as some of CMU’s reserves got the start in the second game of the day. The Mavericks saw their first home mercy rule with an 11-3 victory.
Smith was able to extend the lead for her team in the Mavericks big fifth inning as she hit her grand slam in that inning. The home run scored Warner and freshman Maya Arrieta and Brooklyn Corns.
Redshirt junior outfielder Brandi Hallar then doubled scoring sophomore infielder Sarah Jorissen.
Pitchers Smith and redshirt junior Shea Mauser had two great outings in the circle as Mauser pitched the first and the third game in the series. Smith got her turn in the circle in the second and fourth game.
Mauser had ten strikeouts against FLC in game one which was a season high for the Arvada, Colo. native. Mauser did not give up a run in her appearance on Sunday afternoon.
Smith had a great weekend in the pitching circle as well as she picked up wins six and seven of the season. On Saturday, she was able to strike out three through five innings of work. Smith was able to pick up her second win of the weekend in her appearance on Sunday.
The Mavericks bats did not quiet down Sunday afternoon as seven Mavericks hit the long ball in the last two games of the series. They were able to find many different ways to score as they won 17-0.
Freshman outfielder Rylee Crouch was able to get her first collegiate home run in game three of the series. Sophomore infielder Ava Fugate got the Mavericks first home run of the day as she hit a grand slam in the first inning.
Distler, Fugate, Crouch and redshirt junior catcher Kaley Barker all hit home runs in the first game on Sunday. Freshman Kaytlyn Cripps recorded her first hit as a Maverick in the fourth inning.
Fugate and Distler also had doubles in the game.Redshirt junior outfielder Lauren Wedman had a big RBI triple. The Mavericks had eight hits for extra bases.
In the final game of the series, Wedman was able to drive a home run in the bottom of the first inning. The home run would be Wedman’s first of the season.
FLC then tied the game with a home run of their own by Madsyn Devers in the top half of the third inning. CMU quickly got that run back as a pair of back to back doubles gave CMU the lead once again.
From then on out it was all Mavericks once again as Smith hit another home run in the fifth. Hallar hit a two run home run of her own in the sixth.
The Mavericks were able to get another run rule victory as they were ankle to beat the Skyhawks 9-1.
CMU will host Northern State in a non-conference mid-week doubleheader on Mar.16 at the CMU Softball Field. First pitch will be at 5 p.m.
