In Saturday's morning game, Mesa State faced an elimination game against the host Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. The Mavericks came out and pounded the Lopers 18-7. The Mavericks will now face the New Mexico Highlands in the RMAC Tournament Championship game.

            The Lopers put the first run on the board. Mike Stamp delivered an RBI ground out to score Jordan Mitchelhill from third. 3B Luke Valerius stepped up to the plate and pounded a 2-out RBI double to the right center gap to move the Loper lead to 2-0 after one inning of play.

            Nebraska-Kearney would add to their lead with a sacrifice fly by SS Blake Cover scoring OF Nick Arapkiles from third to push the Loper lead to 3-0.

            Mesa State would get on the board in the top half of the third inning when Ryan Shelton would score Brian Bello on an RBI groundout. Mesa State would still trail the Lopers 3-1.

            The Mavericks were back to work in the next half inning when a successful hit and run was executed by Lucas Shaw. Shaw drove a ball into the right center field gap scoring Jeff Popick from first and cutting the Loper lead to one, 3-2.

            Later in the inning, Austin Buck stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and drew an RBI walk forcing Ken Evanson in from third. Ryan Shelton was the next batter to step to the plate and drew another bases loaded walk forcing in Greg Anderson from third. The next batter Kevin Becker drew yet another bases loaded walk bringing in Brian Bello from third base. The Lopers would then bring in Ryan Seefus to try and clean up Loper starter Andre O'Connor's mess. Brett Nigbur would leave those bases loaded for long. Nigbur drove a ball deep into the right field corner for a bases clearing double. Next batter Jeff Popick would hit an RBI single scoring Brett Nigbur from second. After the Mavericks half of the inning, Mesa State would take the lead 9-3.

            The Lopers would answer back in the next half inning with an RBI groundout by Brian Chritz, scoring Nick Arapkiles and after four complete innings Mesa State would lead 9-4.

            The Mavericks would get that run back in the next half inning. Austin Buck would lift a ball to center to score Ken Evanson from third on the sacrifice fly. Next batter Ryan Shelton would pound an RBI single down the left field line scoring Greg Anderson from second. Brett Nigbur would step to the plate and drive a 2-out, three-run homerun down the left field line, his 13th of the season. That would increase the Maverick lead to 14-4.

            Mesa State would tack on four more runs in the top half of the seventh inning. Lucas Shaw delivered an RBI single that scored Kevin Becker. Ken Evanson then hit a two-out double that scored Joe Schmidtbauer. Next batter, Greg Anderson hit a chopper up the middle which scored Lucas Shaw on the play. After six and a hlaf innings, Mesa State would lead 18-4.

            Nebraska-Kearney would get one back in the bottom of the eighth on a bases loaded walk by Aussie Jordan Mitchelhill to force in Luke Valerius from third. The Mavericks would still lead 18-5.

            The Lopers would scratch across another run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Ben Townsend drew a bases loaded walk, forcing in pinch runner Mike Nowak from third base. The Lopers would still trail, 18-6.

            Nebraska-Kearney managed a single run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by Andrew Haake. Final Score, Mavericks 18, Lopers 7

            The Mavericks now sit at 35-17 and will try to secure the NCAA automatic bid into the NCAA National Tournament. The game will start a little later this afternoon. Tune into Don Teets on 1230AM  on the Maverick Sports Network.