The NMHU Softball team split their double header against the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University, on Sunday, 3/4. Today's victory, combined with the one they had in Saturday's double header split, gives the Cowgirls a two game split of the four game series against the first place team in the RMAC. The Mavericks were victorious in game one of the day by the final score of 11-6. The Cowgirls came out in game two and controlled from the beginning. They went on to get the seven inning victory 7-4. With the split of the four game series against Colorado Mesa University, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 5-3 record in the RMAC and 10-8 in overall play.
The Mavericks got off to a good start in game one of Sunday's double header. They scored two runs in the first inning and pitcher Courtney Maihi was working a no-hitter through the first four innings of play. Maihi helped her cause further in the top of the fourth inning when she drove a two-run homerun over the left-center field wall. After four innings of play the Mavericks were comfortably in control of the game with the score of 4-0.
The Cowgirls finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, when
Shelby Watts hit a leadoff solo homerun over the left-field wall. The Mavericks' offense lit-up the sixth inning with four runs off three hits to extend their lead to 8-1. The Cowgirls managed to score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, when
Roxanne Avalos hit a two-run homerun over the right-field wall with
Katie Kerr on base. After six innings of play the Mavericks were still in the lead 8-3.
The Mavericks padded their lead in the top of the seventh inning with three more runs. Mesa's Lauren Cross hit a lead-off solo homerun and the Mavericks added two more runs through a concerted offensive attack. The Cowgirls'
Erica Wieck tried to rally her team when she hit a three-run homerun over the wall in left field, with
Molly McDougall and
Alisha Perry on base. Unfortunately it was the only runs that the Cowgirls would muster in final inning of game one. The Mavericks went on to win the game 11-6.
Jenelle Klassen (4-1) was credited with the loss for the Cowgirls in game one. She threw a complete seven innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 38 batters. Klassen allowed 11 runs on 11 hits, but only 10 of the runs were credited to her since one run scored on a passed ball at home plate. Klassen struck out three batters and walked five in her first loss of the season.
The Mavericks' Courtney Maihi held down the Cowgirls' offense in game one. The Cowgirls combined for a .192 team batting average, scoring six runs on five hits, with three homeruns.
Roxanne Avalos,
Erica Wieck, and
Shelby Watts were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in the game. Avalos finished 1-2 at the plate, with two RBIs, one run scored and a homerun. Wieck went 1-4 at the plate, with three RBIs, one run scored and a homerun. Watts ended Maihi's no-hitter in the fifth inning with her solo homerun. She finished the day 1-3 from the batter's box, with an RBI and a run scored.
The Cowgirls rebounded from the game one loss in the second game of Sunday's double header.
Jessica Brink got the start and was throwing heat from the very beginning. She began the game by striking out two batters and allowing no runs in the first inning. The Cowgirls offense also got off to a great start in game two, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Mavericks closed the gap by scoring a run in the top of the second.
Molly McDougall led off the bottom of the second inning for the Cowgirls and hit a solo homerun over the wall in right-center field. A well hit sacrifice fly to right field by
Krista Mattice added another run to the scoreboard for the Cowgirls. After two innings of play the Cowgirls had a 4-1 lead.
Brink continued to dominate in the third inning, allowing no runs and no hits once again. The Mavericks' Courtney Maihi added their second run in the fourth inning with her lead-off homerun that she crushed over the scoreboard in center field. The Mavericks closed the gap further in the top of the fifth with a run to make the score 4-3 in favor of the Cowgirls. In the bottom of the fifth inning,
Brittany Potter gave the Cowgirls some breathing room when she hit a two-run homerun over the left-field wall with
Erica Wieck on base. After five innings of play the Cowgirls were still in the lead, 6-3.
Brink shutdown the Mavericks' offense again in the sixth inning and the Cowgirls scored another run in the inning when
Krista Mattice hit an RBI single that scored
Halie Thompson from third base. The Mavericks were on the ropes, down 7-3, going into the top of the seventh inning. Their leadoff batter hit a triple to right-center field and ended up scoring on a Cowgirls' throwing error. Brink then struck out the next two batters and
Krista Mattice made a good play on a ground ball to second base to end the game.
Jessica Brink and the Cowgirls' offense emerged vicotrious in game two, 7-4.
Jessica Brink (3-0) was the winning pitcher in game two for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete seven innings from the pitcher's circle and had a great day against the 29 batters she faced. Brink struck out eight batters and only walked one, allowing four runs on seven hits. Brink was throwing hard throughout the game and kept the Mavericks' offense at bay.
The Cowgirls' bats came alive in game two on Sunday. Their offense combined for a .483 team batting average, with seven runs scored, seven RBIs, three doubles and two homeruns. The Cowgirls got runs from seven different players in the game.
Krista Mattice,
Molly McDougall, and
Brittany Potter were the offensive leaders in game two for the Cowgirls. Mattice finished the game 2-3 from the plate, with a run scored and two RBIs. McDougall also was 2-3 in the batter's box. She hit a homerun, giving her an RBI and a run scored for the game. Potter continued her homerun onslaught this season with a two-run homer in game two. She was 1-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored.
Brittany Potter currently leads the RMAC in RBIs with 22 and is tied for first in the conference in homeruns with nine so far this season.
The Cowgirls Softball team continues to look good this season. After two four-game series in the RMAC this season they have a 5-3 conference record. Both series were played against top opponents in the conference. Their opponents, the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa University, split last year's regular season conference championship. The Cowgirls are definitely contenders in the RMAC this season. They sit in sixth place in the conference after this weekend's games. Both their offense and their pitching staff look solid this year. So far this year, Cowgirls fans have witnessed their fair share of homeruns and dominate pitching performances.
The NMHU Cowgirls will continue conference action on Wednesday, 3/7, as they host their in-state rivals the Mustangs of Western New Mexico University. The Mustangs are currently in third place in the RMAC with a 5-3 conference record and 7-5 in overall play. The first game of Wednesday's double header is scheduled to begin at 12 pm with game two to follow shortly after the completion of game one. Come on out to Brandt Field to catch the Cowgirls in action.
Click
HERE For Complete Game One Stats
Click
HERE For Complete Game Two Stats
GO COWGIRLS!!!
