Mavericks Split at Holiday Inn/Lady Buff Invitational
(Beat Panhandle State, SW Oklahoma, Fall to Northeastern State, Ft. Hays)
(Host: West Texas A&M)

Mesa State opened the 2008 season at the Holiday Inn/Lady Buff Invitational in Amarillo, Texas Friday with an 11-3 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State. The Mavericks jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first inning and scored two runs each in the fourth and sixth inning.

Nicole Zuniga and Meagan Hennessy had two hits each and combined for two RBI and three runs.

Starting pitcher Jessica Rayman (1-0) allowed three runs (one earned) on nine hits, striking out four.

In Friday's second game the Mavericks were shutout by Northeastern State (OK) 3-0. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Northeastern capitalized on an infield error and scored three runs (unearned) on three hits.

Sara Cossman had the only two hits for the Mavericks (2-for-4) as Northeastern State's L. Craig struck out 10 Maverick batters.

MSC's Alicia Neuschwanger dropped her first game of the year allowing three unearned runs on eight hits.

Game one on Saturday MSC defeated SW Oklahoma State 7-4 scoring four runs in the top half of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead and added a single run in the seventh for the 7-4 victory.

Jessica Rayman improved to 2-0 allowing four runs (two earned) on 10 hits. Alissa Zoelle was 2-for-2 from the plate with two RBI.

In the final game of the tournament the Mavericks faced former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe, Fort Hays State. The Tigers defeated the Mavericks 8-3 on just one earned run and five Maverick errors. MSC had nine hits in the game, including Zoelle's team high three hits.

Neuschwanger was credited with the loss despite giving up just one earned run. She walked one and struck out two.

MSC will host Colorado School of Mines this weekend at Monument Little League Field. The Mavericks new on-campus stadium should be complete for the March 15-16 series with Chadron State.

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