After a tough loss on Friday night the Mavericks looked to redeem themselves on Saturday.
In the two games against Minot State University (MSU) in Saturday’s doubleheader, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) went through a rollercoaster of emotions as they split the two ball games with the Beavers.
“What great teams do in those situations, they don’t panic. They let those games, plays, and at bats in the past and just focus on the task at hand.” Junior third baseman Caleb Farmer said.
The Mavericks were still trying to find their first win against the Beavers in the third game of this four game series.
Sophomore catcher Haydn McGeary took one to the yard with the bases loaded on the first pitch of the at bat to seal the win in the sixth inning. McGeary added on to what is now a 13-game hitting streak.
Junior designated hitter Spencer Bramwell, Senior second baseman Blaine Demello and Junior outfielder Matt Cassin all touched home on the grand slam by McGeary.
McGeary last week’s National Player of Week according to National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), finished his day with a homerun but he also had the Mavericks first hit of the game in a very anticipated match up against last week’s National Pitcher of the Week from NCBWA Noah Myhers.
McGeary was not the only CMU power hitter to connect with the ball in the second game of the afternoon.
Farmer went deep for the second time but for the first time in the second game on a fastball he saw up the middle on a hitters 3-1 count.
All the Mavericks wanted to jump in on the fun in the second game. Sophomore outfielder Tanner Garner tied the game at four during the fifth inning after making two spectacular catcher in the outfield to save runs from scoring for the Beavers.
“I was just trying to stay relaxed and drive the ball. The pitch that I drove out was a fastball middle away and I was trying to let it get deep and get the barrel on it.” Garner said.
Junior shortstop Chase Hamilton got CMU on the board in the fourth with a triple that scored McGeary.
The first game of the doubleheader was a game of going back and forth and didn’t turn in the Mavericks favor.
Junior outfielder Matt Turner and Farmer hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning that started a four run rally to get the 4-2 lead over MSU.
One home run was just not enough for the outfielder and hit another one to add to the Mavericks run total by hitting a two run home run in the eighth with Hamilton on base. His day didn’t stop there either he eventually found the gap and hit a double to score Hamilton again in the ninth.
The pitching for CMU was not as clean as we had seen it can be. Sophomore right handed pitcher Andrew Morris and right handed freshman Jared Ure both got starts for the Mavericks and had a rough time getting settled in that first inning.
Morris allowed a two-run homerun in the first to Drew Behling of MSU to start off the game. After the first inning Morris settled in and struck out eight through six and one third innings.
Ure had more of a tough time allowing three runs to score in the first and giving up two home runs in the first. Ure found his groove and stayed the game for five and one third innings of a seven inning game striking out six.
CMU looks to avoid losing the series to the Beavers on Sunday in the last game of this four game series.
Fun fact: The Mavericks have not lost a four-game series since April 21- 23, 2011 against Metro State University-Denver.
