Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah—Hawai`i Hilo built an early lead via the long ball but couldn't stop the Mavericks in the end as No. 8 nationally ranked Colorado Mesa rallied for an 8-5 win over the Vulcans at the Dixie State Easton Classic at the Canyons Softball Complex.

Colorado Mesa improved to 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in the tournament, while the Vulcans dropped to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in St. George. Earlier today, UH Hilo defeated Western Washington, 6-5.

The Mavericks, who already have a win this season over the No. 2 team in the country (San Angelo State), have three pre-season All-Americans on their roster.

But the Vulcans roughed up one of those selections, pitcher McKenzie Surface. Isabelle Mejia hit a two-run home run in the first inning, Skylar Thomas did the same in the fifth and Brinell Kaleikini added a solo shot in the sixth.

Thomas' big bang in the top of the fourth inning gave UH Hilo a 4-2 lead, signaling a possible upset in the making.

But the Mavericks answered with a three-run shot of their own in the bottom of the fifth, off the bat of AnnMarie Torres, giving Colorado Mesa a 5-4 lead. The Vulcans tied it in the top of the sixth on Kaleikini's second home run of the day (5-5), but the team from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference exploded for five hits and three runs in the bottom half of the inning and sent Surface back to the pitcher's circle in the seventh.

Darian Obara led off the inning with a single, but Surface then induced a double play ground ball and another game-ending grounder to close out the win. She improved to 4-0 on the year. Leah Gonzales pitched effectively through the first four innings, and left the contest with the game tied at 5-5. Mejia took the loss, pitching the sixth inning.

Surface only gave up five hits, three of them home runs. Mari Kawano and Obara added singles. The Mavericks had 13 hits, including eight by the top four players in their batting order.

Box score will be available later today.

The Vulcans will wrap up play in St. George on Friday with a 3 pm (MT) game with Western New Mexico, followed by a 5:30 pm clash with Fort Lewis.