Sophomore left handed pitcher Kannon Handy was able to shut down the Orediggers offense in the final game of the series as he threw a no-hitter Monday afternoon.
Trying to get the Mavericks back on track after two consecutive losses to Colorado School of Mines (CSM), Handy gave it his all and only allowed one walk with two outs in the seventh inning. He also was able to strike out six of the 22 batters he faced.
The Utah native credits the defense he had behind him for being able to make great plays in the field. He picked up nine flyouts and six groundouts as the defense did their job behind him.
The no-hitter was the eighth in program history and the first since Luke Cheever did it against the Orediggers in 2006.
Handy had the help of the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) offense as they put up a 4-0 victory.
The offense started early as a two run home run by senior infielder Spencer Bramwell hit a two-run home run to give the Mavericks their offensive momentum. Continuing to find success at the plate was senior infielder Caleb Farmer as he was able to get a hold of a ball and drive it to left center field in the third to add to the Mavericks run total.
Junior outfielder Conrad Villafuerte scored on a fielding error to give CMU their fourth run in the fourth.
In the previous game, CMU was able to maintain the lead for the majority of the game but a couple of solid hits in late innings from CSM was the difference in the 5-6 loss.
Danny McDermott hit a two RBI double to left center in the first allowing the Orediggers to get on the board first. Senior infielder Chase Hamilton answered with an RBI double of his own to score Villafuerte.
Farmer then got in on the action with a double of his own in the third as the Mavericks were able to tie the game up as senior outfielder Matthew Turner came around to score on the play. Jordan Stubbings then was able to hit a sacrifice fly to score Farmer allowing the Mavericks to have their first lead of the game.
CMU extended the lead by two as Turner hit another RBI double scoring sophomore infielder Harrison Rodgers.
Mason Andrews was able to homer for the Orediggers to bring the Mavericks lead down to one.
Caden Bonds then shifted the game in CSM’s favor as he singled with three runners on base. Luke Folcom and Wayne Moeck scored on the single and the throw.
Farmer then tied the game up at five with Turner and Rodgers on base. He singled up the middle allowing Rodgers to score.
A clutch single in the seventh from Folsom was able to score I-Ly Hsue giving CSM the lead and eventually the win.
The Orediggers ace Tyler Blomster then closed out the game on the pitching side of things as he earned his first save. Blomster allowed only one hit in the final two innings of the game. He worked to his strengths in working efficiently and quickly against the Mavericks.
Junior right handed pitcher Isaac Hayen came out of the game with a no decision as he went four and one third innings. He was able to strikeout five batters in his appearance which is a season high in the 16 ⅔ innings that Hayen has pitched.
The Mavericks will return home on Mar. 18 to face another RMAC foe in the University of Colorado- Colorado Springs at 3 p.m. in Grand Junction, Colo.
