Walkoff home run sinks Hounds in finale at Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. — Colorado Mesa second baseman Myah Arrieta led off the bottom of the seventh with a her first home run of the season, sending the Mavericks past Eastern New Mexico University 2-1 in the Greyhounds’ finale of the D2 Cactus Classic softball tournament.

The result left the Hounds at 1-4 for the weekend and 7-7 so far this season.

The team returns with a 2 p.m. twin bill against Lone Star Conference foe Lubbock Christian at Greyhound Softball Field on Friday before traveling to LCU for a pair the following day. Both doubleheaders will be non-league.

ENMU sophomore right-hander Brook Leger (6-2) was locked in a pitching duel with Colorado Mesa junior Shea Mauser, each carrying a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning.

The Hounds broke through in the sixth on a one-out RBI double by designated player Lisette Urquidez, putting runners at second and third. But Mauser got out of it with a pop-up and a strikeout, and the Mavericks (6-4) tied it in the bottom half on a run-scoring single by junior Ashley Bradford.

Leger finished with four hits allowed, no walks and 10 strikeouts in six-plus innings. Mauser also gave up four hits and no walks through six innings with nine whiffs before giving was to senior Paige Adair (4-1), who worked a perfect seventh.

After winning their first game of the event handily, the Hounds were limited to six runs over their final four tilts.

In games played on Friday:

ENMU 10, California (Pa.) 2 — Leger got plenty of support in this one, especially late. Leading 3-2, the Hounds ended the game on the eight-run rule by scoring three in the fifth and four more in the sixth.

ENMU pounded out 11 hits, with five players getting two apiece. Leger, Urquidez and catcher Mackenzie Shaw each had a pair of runs batted in.

Simon Fraser (B.C.) 7, ENMU 3 — First baseman Hanna Finkelstein’s three-run homer in the third erased a 1-0 Hounds left, and Simon Fraser kept ENMU at bay the rest of the way. Sophomore Anissa Zacharczuk (1-0) went five innings for the win, and freshman Julia Hansen got five outs to earn a save.

Maite Bustillos singled home a run for ENMU in the third, and shortstop Jokaira Parades pulled the Hounds to 5-3 with a two-run single in the sixth. Paredes and second baseman Alanna Larkins both went 2-for-3 for ENMU, which was outhit 10-6.

In games from Saturday:

Azuza Pacific 6, ENMU 0 — Sophomore left-hander Sydnie Sahhar (2-3) and two relievers survived seven walks and combined on a two-hitter. The Azuza, Calif.-based Cougars (6-7) pounded out 12 hits, including sophomore Aly Montesino’s second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fifth.

Sahhar escaped a jam in the bottom of the second and Azuza took the lead with a two-run third.

Leger went five innings, allowing 10 hits and five runs (four earned), with two walks and five strikeouts.

Colorado Christian 4, ENMU 1 — Shortstop Kayla Middleton’s two-run single broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth and the Cougars (10-4) went on to their third win of the spring over the Hounds.

An RBI double by Urquidez pulled ENMU to 3-1 in the top of the fifth, but second baseman Taylor Olsen’s second homer of the campaign gave CCU some insurance in the bottom half.

Right-hander Sydney Rawlings (4-0) scattered five hits in going the distance in the circle for the Cougars. Urquidez finished 2-for-4.