Baseball ends non-conference play with 9-6 record

Matt Majewski • March 10, 2023

The Mavericks hosted the Montana State University Billings (MSU-B)Yellowjackets for a four game baseball series. The club won the first three games of the series by a combined score of 40-18, but dropped game four of the series 9-6 on March 4.

MSU-B came into the series with a 5-5 record, splitting games in California and fresh off a series victory over CMU’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) rival Colorado State University Pueblo.

In game one of the series the Mavericks exploded, scoring 19 runs in the game. After producing one run in each of the first three innings, CMU plated 10 runs in the fourth inning. Patience was the key to success, as they drew three walks, in addition to three hit-by-pitches in the frame.

Freshman Kennedy Hara did jump on a pitch in the fourth inning, blasting a grand slam for his first career home run. After the grand slam, CMU played with a large lead and won the contest 19-8.

Hara and the rest of the Maverick offense carried the momentum into game two of the series, registering 18 hits in the 16-6 win. In the win, Hara went 4/5 with two RBIs (runs batted in), while junior Harrison Rodgers also went 4/5, adding 5 RBIs.

[/media-credit] CMU Infielder Braden Winget awaits the throw from the outfield as MSU-B infielder Zach Blaszak races to second base off a single from outfielder Carson Green. Winget would eventually end up scoring to drop the Maverick lead to 6, 8-14 at the top of the eighth inning. CMU would end up cruising to victory, however, 16-6.

Game three of the series was much more competitive, with CMU winning 5-4. The Mavericks have won most of their games this year with their offense, but the pitching stepped up big in the low scoring win.

Sophomore Cole Seward pitched the first five innings, striking out seven en route to his third victory on the year. Then, graduate student Anthony Durbano pitched the last two innings, and didn’t allow a single baserunner.

[/media-credit] Paul Schoenfeld hits a single, which sends in Kennedy Hara to score at home plate. The sophomore would then steal second base. In total, Schoenfeld hit 3 singles and two RBIs against the Yellowjackets during their first double-header game on March 3.

In game four, MSU-B got the best of CMU, avoiding the series sweep. The Mavericks trailed 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth but had the bases loaded with no outs. Unfortunately, the squad went down in order, scoring no runs in the frame.

Later in the final inning, the Mavericks trailed 9-2, needing an insane comeback to rally. The club managed to score four runs, but the comeback fell short, losing 9-6.

With a 9-6 record, the team looks to rebound as they host Metro State University- Denver, who is ranked first in the RMAC, to start conference play. The two teams play a four game series starting Friday, at the Diamond at CMU.

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