The Mavericks headed to Colorado Spring, Colo. in a top 15 match up with the Mountain Lions and took the series 3-1.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) knew this weekend was not going to be an easy task as they had to face a tough University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) team.
With the Mavericks down 4-1 entering the bottom half of the fifth inning, sophomore designated hitter Haydn McGeary was able to single up the middle to score freshman infielder Jonathan Gonzalez. Junior catcher Spencer Bramwell was able to double down the left field line ti score McGeary and the Mavericks were right back in this one.
Trying to tie the game up was junior first baseman Jordan Stubbings and he did just that as a double to left center field would be enough to get Bramwell home. Stubbings later in the game saw another 0-1 pitch that he liked, a drive that one to left field to score Bramwell again.
Every Maverick in the starting lineup besides junior third baseman Caleb Farmer was able to record a hit in the series opener. Farmer in the next three games got his chance to help the team out at the plate.
Throughout the weekend the Mavericks continued the trend of putting big numbers up on the scoreboard.
To open the doubleheader on Saturday, junior outfielder Matt Turner doubled down the line in left field allowing sophomore outfielder Tanner Garner to score. McGeary then hit a two run home run and it was 3-0 Mavericks.
McGeary now has seven home runs this season. He was also intentionally walked by UCCS the next time he was at the plate.
The Mountain Lions responded with two runs of their own but it wasn’t enough as Bramwell hit a long single that scored two Mavericks and again the team led by three.
Mavericks junior shortstop Chase Hamilton hit his first dinger of the season in the third extending the Mavericks’ run total to seven as Farmer was waiting for him on base.
The rest of the scoring in the first game of the double header was done by UCCS as they tried to come back but fell short 7-6.
In a game that saw 32 hits combined and a score of 15-14 the Mavericks and Mountain Lions battled until the last pitch was thrown.
This one was going in UCCS favor as they scored six runs in the second inning.
But with Bramwell up to bat in the fourth he found the gap once again, Turner scored and the Mavericks were on the board. Still trying to even out the score Stubbings came up to the plate and skyrocketed a ball down the right field line for a three run home run and in a blink of an eye it was a 4-6 game.
Turner and sophomore outfielder Conrad Villafuerte got in on all the home run hitting action as they each hit a homer of their own. The Mavericks coming out of the fourth inning had scored nine runs and now we’re on top 9-7.
UCCS then responded with two of their own tying it back up at nine a piece.
Going into the bottom part of the sixth CMU was suddenly down again. But they were able to come back and make this once again an interesting game.
Stubbings and Hamilton had hits through the middle to make it a 12-12 game after Bramwell grounded out to start the inning off but senior outfielder Tyler Parker would score.
Parker hit a home run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Mavericks the lead after UCCS tied this thing up for a third time and the Maverick would win this one 15-14.
McGeary led the team in hits in the nightcap with four hits. While Stubbings led in RBIs with four of his own.
The Mavericks looked to get the sweep against UCCS on Sunday but just fell short in a game that went into extra innings.
In another back and forth game, the MAvericks had to come from behind as the Mountain Lions scored first in this one.
The Mavericks scored four in the third but then was only able to have a runner score in the sixth again.
That was not enough as the game was tied at five going into the 11 and a single from the Mountain Lions was enough for them to avoid the sweep.
On the other side of the ball, the Mavericks starting pitching was consistently good this weekend.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Morris who has been a force for this team so far this season continued with a strong complete game on Friday.
He rightfully earned his second win of the season as he threw a complete game in just 136 pitches. Morris only allowed two earned runs, one walk, eight hits and struck out 14 Mountain Lions. He also holds a 2.35 ERA on the season.
Junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Day improved to 3-0 as he struck out six batters over five innings of work for the Mavericks. Fellow left-handed pitcher in freshman Kannon Handy got a start as well and threw four innings in the sunday loss but only had one earned run as well as six strikeouts.
Senior right-handed pitcher Trevin Reynolds ran into some troubles early and walked away with the no decision but had three strikeouts of his own.
The Mavericks will return home as they start their second and last pod series of the season with games against Adams State University and Regis University (RU). CMU will open the weekend up with a game against RU at 6 p.m Friday night in Grand Junction, Colo.
