GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Rogers State softball team knocked out two solo home runs, but came up short against the No. 3-ranked Colorado Mesa Mavericks, 10-2, due to two big late innings that tallied eight runs by the host team on Thursday (May 10) in RSU's first-ever game at the NCAA South Central Regional at the CMU Softball Field.
 
Making their first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, the No. 8-seeded Hillcats (39-19) totaled two solo home runs from freshmen Rylee DeLozier and Merissa Smith for the only tallies for the Cats.
 
The No. 1-seeded Mavericks (48-3) went in front early 1-0 with an infield RBI single in the second inning and doubled the edge to 2-0 with a solo home run to center in the fourth inning.
 
RSU pulled to with one at 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning when DeLozier sent out a solo homer to left center.
 
CMU pulled away with the eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the 10-2 win in six innings due to the run rule. In the bottom of the fifth, the Mavericks started with five runs to build a 7-1 advantage. After an RBI single opened the scoring in the bottom of the fifth, two more runs came home due to an RSU error. Another RBI single and a fielder's choice brought home the final two runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
The Hillcats got one run back in the sixth inning on the solo home run from Smith, her 16th of the season and third in postseason play, to make it 7-2.
 
The Mavericks ended the game with three runs, all on homers, in the bottom of the sixth for the 10-2 final score in six innings. The scoring in the bottom of the sixth started with a two-run home run to left and ended with a walk-off solo shot to left for the 10-2 margin.
 
DeLozier went 1-for-2 with one RBI for the navy and red. Smith finished 1-for-3 with one RBI. The Cats registered five hits in the six innings.
 
Heartland Conference Tournament MVP Andrea Morales (15-8) started in the circle, going the first 4.1 innings with one strikeout and six earned runs allowed on seven hits. Alex Brake pitched the final 1.1 innings.
 
Brooke Hodgson was 2-for-4 with three RBI, bringing her to nation-leading 103 RBI on the season, for the Mavericks. Zoe Pakes finished 3-for-3 with three RBI. CMU totaled 12 hits and three home runs.
 
CMU's Kimbri Herring pitched the complete 6.0 innings to move to 22-1 on the season. She allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
 
The Hillcats face Tarleton State in the first elimination game of the NCAA South Central Regional tomorrow (May 11) at 3:30 p.m. (CT), 2:30 p.m. (MT) at the CMU Softball Field in Grand Junction, Colo. Video and audio streaming will be available along with live stats for the postseason contest.