The Mavericks made a strong comeback from Thursday night as they won both of their games on Friday in games that were not easy victories.
In Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) first game of the day, they took on Colorado School of Mines in an elimination match up. The Mavericks were able to win 13-7.
The coaching staff turned to senior right handed pitcher Frankie Fitzgerald who was solid through six innings. He only gave up seven hits and three runs while striking out three. The three runs did not seem to matter as Fitzgerald had the offensive support throughout the game.
After the Orediggers got a lead in the first with back to back doubles, CMU scored in the third as Ben Schoneman got called for a balk that allowed senior outfielder Johnny Carr to score.
The Mavericks then took the lead in the fourth as junior outfielder Conrad Villafuerte hit a homerun to left field. In the fifth, the Mavericks continued the scoring as senior infielder Jordan Stubbings singled to left field as senior infielder Spencer Bramwell came across to score. After CMU took the lead, CSM was able to find ways to get on base but never was able to retake the lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Toby Scoles answered with an RBI single of his own, scoring Taylor White.
The Mavericks had a big sixth inning as junior designated hitter Haydn McGeary singled to center field allowing Carr to score. Villafuerte then popped up to the second baseman in shallow right center field allowing sophomore infielder Harrison Rodgers to tag up and score on the play.
Senior outfielder Matthew Turner doubled to right fielder later in the inning allowing both McGeary and senior infielder Caleb Farmer on the play. Stubbings then hit a double of his own as he was able to score Turner.
CSM then tried to come back as Adam Houghtaling hit a solo homerun in the bottom half of the sixth. Luke Folsom then found his first hit of the day in the seventh as it was an RBI single up the middle to score Alex Bumpus.
McGeary hit a solo home run in the top half of the eighth before junior outfielder Julian Boyd scored Bramwell on a single through the right side.
In the ninth, the Mavericks were able to score three more runs to secure the victory.
Bramwell doubled to right center field allowing Farmer and McGeary to score. Bramwell then scored as Villafuerte doubled to right field.
Sophomore right handed pitcher Cade Nicol came in to close out the game on the mound for the last two and one third innings and did an excellent job. He was able to strike out seven Orediggers while only giving up three hits and one run.
In the Mavericks’ nightcap, it was the game that had everyone on the edge of their seats till the very end but the Mavericks came out against Metro State University- Denver with a score of 14-10. The energy in The Diamond at the Bergman Sports Complex was electric as the Maverick community rallied behind the team for the whole game.
“I think the crowd helped a lot with that, they brought a lot of energy. We knew it was going to be a good game, Metro was going to come out swinging so we knew we had to be on it,” Farmer said.
CMU got the party started as Farmer scored on an error by Zachary Schular. Villafuerte then flew out to left field but McGeary tagged up to score.
The Roadrunners were not going to sit down and let the Mavericks take over quietly as Ross Smith doubled scoring Bill Ralston.
Farmer answered to the double by Smith with a two run home run allowing sophomore infielder Jonathan Gonzalez to score as well. The home run by Farmer was not his only home run of the night as he hit another two run home run in the fifth inning, this time an opposite field home run to right field.
The Mavericks third baseman found a way to help his team in both teams as he was able to get the drag bunt and sac bunt down to move runners over and also hit the long ball.
“ Whatever the team needs I mean drab bunt, sac bunt, homerun, strikeout. I did it all today,” Farmer said.
The Mavericks were able to take advantage of wild pitches and errors as well throughout the game as Turner scored on a wild pitch in the third.
MSUD had some success at the plate as Ralston hit a home run in the third putting his team in striking distance. Smith then hit a home run himself which put his team within two.
Then came Farmer up the plate as he doubled this time allowing Rodgers to score. Villafuerte then singled allowing Farmer to score on the play to conclude the Mavericks scoring in the fourth. Rodgers then singled to get Gonzalez to score in the fifth.
CMU did not strike again until the seventh as Farmer came across on another fielding error by Schular.
Colin Stone hit a home run to cut the lead in half. Cam Yuran then scored on a wild pitch.
Villafuerte then gave the Mavericks some insurance runs in the ninth as he singled through the left side scoring Farmer and McGeary.
Smith and the Roadrunners did not let the Mavericks take the game quietly as he hit a three run home run in the bottom half of the ninth but it was not enough as Gage Edwards shut down the game for the Mavericks.
The two teams met again in the Championship game on May 14.
