COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fighting lighting and rain, the Mavericks could not fight off the Warriors of Winona State and fell today 9-3, ending their NCAA Tournament run.
Mesa State (23-22) jumped on top early off a walk by
Gabriella Parra (Albuquerque, NM, West Mesa) and a 2-run home run by
Sara Jordan (San Marcos, TX, Wharton), her 12th of the season. Winona State (38-13) scored in the top of the second off a solo homerun by Jenny Wilmes.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Mavericks manufactured a run with a little small ball.
Ashlee Duffy (Grand Junction, CO, Central) led off the inning with a walk. Following a SAC bunt by
Lisa Pille (Ft. Collins, CO, Rocky Mountain) and a passed ball,
Danielle Vallie (La Quinta, CA, La Quinta) hit an RBI single just out of the reach of the shortstop.
The Warriors of Winona had a big inning in the third inning as they scored six runs on six hits. Wilmes was at the plate and as she did in the second, hit another home run. The three-run shot down the left line left the Mavericks in a 7-3 hole after three complete.
Pille started a Maverick rally in the fourth inning with a single down the left line and
Lita Romero (Pueblo, CO, Central) followed with a bunt single. A SAC bunt moved both runners into scoring position but the Mavs would then ground into a double play to end the scoring threat.
In the sixth, Duffy led off the inning with a shot to left field that was snagged on the fence by left fielder Annie Studemann. It was the second time in a week that Duffy had homeruns snagged on the fence. The game then was postponed due to lightning and rain. Following a two hour delay, the Mavericks came back out and grounded out to end the inning.
Winona State would add two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Mavericks, down to their last three outs grounded out and struck out to end the game and the season 9-3.
“We just didn’t get any breaks today,” said Head Coach Kris Mort. “Katie (Mitchell) hits a line drive with one out with bases loaded, that ball goes through and we score a couple of runs.”
Both Duffy and
Katie Mitchell (Billings, MT, West) played their last games in a Maverick uniform and reflected on that following the game. “It was an amazing experience to play for four years and spend time with these great girls and coaches,” said Duffy.
Mitchell added that “we are fortunate to have great coaches and great players in the program.”
Box Score | Post-Game Interview