Sports Reporter
ksparkhu@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Every team starts out the season with a set of goals. The Mavericks, currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, achieved one of them this weekend with a four-game, RMAC-clinching sweep of the Colorado Christian Cougars (6-33, 4-26). In the four-game series, the Mavericks tallied 51 runs while only allowing 14 in games decided by scores of 11-1, 3-1, 28-8, and 9-4.
The first doubleheader was a game of broken records and was decided quick and easy for the Mavericks. They were able to tally 12 stolen bases (eight in game one, four in game two) that pushed the total to 114 on the season, enough to pass the 2009 squad for most stolen bases in a season (113).
Standout pitcher Nolan Snell pitched seven innings while allowing only one run and eight K’s. He moved to 6-1 on the season, and notched his 22nd win of his career, which moves him to second on the all-time wins list.
“I feel pretty honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as some of the great pitchers of the past,” Snell said. “I’ve been lucky to have been surrounded by some great hitters and relief pitchers that have definitely helped me out in my career.”
Snell wasn’t the only one moving up, as Braden Box became the all-time steal leader in CMU history with 68, passing Justin Little (66).
Saturday’s games showed the Mavs’ offensive power. In game one, the Mavericks racked up 24 hits (seven with extra bases) on their way to scoring 28 runs. Every starter had a hit and outfielder Garrett Carpenter extended his hit streak to 21 games after missing the last six with a finger injury. Colton Little went 4-6 in the game with four runs, three doubles and six RBI. Austin Kaiser and Erik Kozel each had three hits.
In the game that would eventually clinch the RMAC, the Mavericks scored in every inning, bringing in nine runs on 10 hits and nine errors from the Cougars. Shortstop Nate Robertson went 4-4 with three runs scored while also adding two stolen bases.
“Our team has been working hard this whole year, and it’s great that it’s paying off,” Snell said after clinching the RMAC regular season title. “But we are not done yet.”
Catcher Colton Schoelkopf feels confident by the way the team has been playing heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
“We just need our pitchers to keep throwing well, playing strong defensively and keep executing on offense,” Schoelkopf said. “We need to take advantage of every opportunity we get.”
The Mavericks (34-6, 26-2) captured their sixth championship in eight years and their second consecutive. The Mavs now have their 20th title and have established themselves among the elites in D2 college baseball.
“It feels good to know we have clinched and are the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament,” Schoelkopf said. “This is a team that has got a lot of talent and depth at every position, but winning conference is only the first step to reaching our final goal.”
Head coach Chris Hanks, already the most successful head coach in CMU history, achieved his ninth RMAC title in 15 years.
The Mavericks will return home next weekend to take on the Regis University Rangers at Stuplizio Field. The game is also the annual “Little League Family Night/Record Setting Attendance Night.” First Pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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