Colorado Mesa University (CMU) closed out their series with Montana State University- Billings (MSUB) going 2-1 throughout the second and third day of competition.
The Mavericks lost their first game of the season on Feb.18 as the Yellowjackets were able to pull out the 4-5 win.
Walks haunted the Mavericks pitching staff as they gave up nine walks throughout the game. Even though sophomore right handed pitcher Joey Mazzetti did not give up a hit through his two innings of work he did give up two runs as he walked three batters and hit two.
CMU had the lead going into the eighth inning despite having pitching struggles early on.
Sophomore infielder Harrison Rodgers doubled in the second to get the Mavericks on the board by scoring senior outfielder Matthew Turner. Senior catcher Spencer Bramwell tied the game up at two as he singled to score Turner in the fourth.
Junior designated hitter Haydn McGeary came in clutch and put CMU ahead in the fifth with a triple to right center field, scoring sophomore outfielder Robert Sharrar. McGeary then got a free bag on a wild pitch putting CMU up 4-2.
The eighth inning was the Yellowjackets inning as they were able to tie the game with a big home run from Mitch Winter to right field making it his first of the season. They then found the momentum they needed to get the win over the Mavericks as a Carson Green single scored Blake Murray. That put MSUB ahead 4-5.
After seeing their first loss of the season, the Mavericks came back strong in the second game as they won 12-7.
Sophomore Cade Nicol got the win out of the bullpen as he came in after left handed sophomore Kannon Handy got the start. Handy faced three batters in the fourth before Nicol came in in relief.
Handy gave up eight hits, seven runs, and four walks on Friday. He was able to strike out three batters as well.
The Mavericks bats came alive as McGeary had another great performance at the plate as he went 5-5 with four RBIs and one run. McGeary had one extra base hit with a double in the sixth that scored senior infielder Caleb Farmer. Before scoring on McGeary’s hit, Farmer had a big RBI triple himself.
Farmer, McGeary and senior infielder Jordan Stubbings all had multi-hit games in the second game of CMU’s doubleheader.
Turner was able to give CMU the lead in the second as he hit a three run home run scoring Stubbings and Carr.
In what turned into a pitching duel between junior Isaac Hayen and MSUB’s Connor Redmond it was the Mavericks that ended up victorious.
Hayen was able to get out of a few jams in early innings but only gave up two runs. He struck out three and only walked on batter.
Sophomore Cooper Vasquez shined in his bullpen appearance as he threw three strong innings giving himself his first one of the season. He only walked one and struck out four in his appearance.
The CMU lineup had a tough time feeling out the timing of Redmond’s pitches. Bramwell hit a RBI triple to right center that got the Mavericks on the board in the second inning.
It was not until a McGeary two run home run in the sixth that gave CMU the lead and the momentum that they needed to not only get Redmond out of the game and see the Yellowjackets bullpen, but also get the rest of the teams bats going.
McGeary made it into the Mavericks record books with his home run on Saturday. He tied Chris McClure (1997) with 43 home runs in a Maverick uniform.
The Mavericks will stay at home this weekend as they will take on Northwest Nazarene in a four game set beginning Feb. 24 at 2:30 p.m. in Grand Junction, Colo.
