DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University softball team played its final home doubleheader of the 2024 season on Monday against the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks.
The Rangers (26-22 overall, 22-16 RMAC) answered offensively almost every time the Mavericks (39-7 overall, 37-3 RMAC), but were unable to overcome one of the conference's top offenses.
GAME ONE | HOW IT HAPPENED
While the Mavericks struck first in the first inning with one run, the Rangers answered with three in the bottom half of the inning spearheaded by a single from freshman infielder Jessica Isbell that got through the outfield and cleared the bases.
Three home runs in the second and third innings for CMU widened their lead to three, 6-3, but the Rangers weren't backing down.
Isbell stepped up once again with a double to left center to score two and put Regis within one run of the Mavericks.
An error from CMU's catcher sent the ball to center field to score sophomore infielder Olivia Wick and tied the game up at six a piece.
Two extra-base hits scored five for the Mavericks to secure the win in Game One.
GAME TWO | HOW IT HAPPENED
It took eight innings to complete the final home game of the 2024 season and a total of 31 runs across both teams before the Mavericks took the 17-14 win.
Regis accumulated 13 runs within the first three innings, highlighted by a seven-run first inning.
After the Mavericks scored three in the top half of the first, sophomore outfielder Sienna Reed lit the fuse for the Rangers with a double to right field that scored three.
Following those three, a double to left center from junior infielder Ariana Ybarra, a single from junior outfielder Abby Larsen, and a sacrifice hit from Isbell racked up the next four runs for the Rangers.
Seven hits over the next two innings – led by Williams with a two-run blast to left and a single – added another six runs for the Rangers to bring the score to 13-6.
Sophomore right-hander Vanessa Candito kept the Mavericks at bay and only allowed two runs between the top of the second and two outs into the top of the sixth before CMU was able to add four more to their total to bring the score to 13-10 in Regis' favor.
Another four runs in the top of the seventh gave CMU their first lead of the entire game, but the Rangers were quick to even the score thanks to a solo shot to left field from Wick.
With the score tied at 14, the Mavericks added three more in the top of the eighth but the Rangers were unable to answer in the home half of the inning.
UP NEXT
The Rangers play their final regular season series against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls down in Las Vegas, Nev. First pitch is scheduled for Saturday at 12 PM.
