A bounce-back day is all teams look for when suffering a rough one-run loss and Colorado Mesa University didn’t have to wait long to get their bounce-back game.
In what has been a recurring theme over their past four series, the Mavericks received quality pitching and more offense to secure their fourth straight series, this time defeating New Mexico Highlands 10-1 Saturday afternoon to capture the four-game series 3-1 and end the eight-game home stand with a 7-1 record.
The fans at Suplizio were quickly met with more home runs after seeing seven home runs combined in Friday’s second game of the doubleheader. Jordan Stubbings kept the strong weekend going with his third home run of the series in the third inning.
The sophomore flashed his power on this one sending a deep shot over the 400-foot fence in centerfield. He homered all three days of the series and in three of the four games.
Two batters later, Dominic DeMarco, in fitting fashion, drilled a two-run home run to the scoreboard in right-center to extend CMU’s lead to 4-0. DeMarco laced a double an inning prior that helped set up Spencer Bramwell’s sacrifice fly.
If you thought the Mavericks were done with their home run binge, think again. Freshman Conrad Villafuerte, making a spot start at designated hitter, launched a moonshot to left field, clearing the signs in left with plenty room to spare. The CMU dugout erupted and celebrated Villafuerte’s first career collegiate home run.
Highlands starter Cameron Polich pitched a clean first but immediately couldn’t work out of trouble in the second and third. After a Matt Turner single in the third following a pair of home runs from CMU, he was given the hook and ended his day with four runs allowed on five hits and three walks in 2 1.3 innings.
It was a trying weekend for the Cowboy’s pitching staff. They came into the series with the second-worst earned run average in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and left no better in that category with an 8.04 team ERA.
With a 7-0 lead, CMU right-hander Trevin Reynolds continued to pitch well in his best start of the season. He scattered six hits through five innings with his only blemish coming in the fifth when a Carlos Ramirez double scored Joe Cilladi from second.
Reynolds has mixed between starting and coming out of the bullpen this season, but Saturday’s start was his best appearance yet. He mixed his pitches against a Cowboys team that has shown to have some serious power in this four-game series.
Jacob Padilla and Sergio Lucero fared no better than Polich combining for six runs allowed on eight hits in 3 ⅓ innings. DeMarco added runs to Lucero’s ERA with an RBI single in the sixth, and Chaz Lopez followed with an RBI double to left that scored DeMarco.
DeMarco finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Villafuerte matched DeMarco’s line in his first start of the season after playing sparingly in six games prior.
Playoff Picture
With eight games left to go in the regular season, the Mavericks sit in first in the RMAC with a 22-6 record (34-8 overall). CMU is two games ahead of MSU Denver, who are 20-8 in RMAC play.
The two teams haven’t seen each other all season, but next weekend in Denver, the two sides will face off in a pivotal series that may determine who wins the RMAC regular-season title.
The four-game series starts on Friday. MSU Denver (29-10 overall) sport the best batting average in the RMAC (.332), just ahead of Mesa (.331).
CMU’s pitching staff has the upper hand in ERA, 4.04 to MSU’s 4.31. The Mavericks will look to limit senior Matt Malkin, who leads the Roadrunners and the RMAC with a .429 BA.
