Box Score             The Mesa State Mavericks staved off elimination with a win over the Augustana Vikings 4-3 at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minn. The Mavericks scored four runs on ten hits and committed two errors in the game.

            The Vikings struck early in the first inning on a RBI single by All-Region OF Nate Baumann to give Augustana a 1-0 lead.

            The Mavericks answered in the next half inning. SS Ken Evanson delivered a two-run RBI single to centerfield to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead.

            Both teams struggled through the next few innings but both teams struck for single runs in the fifth inning and after six complete innings the Mavericks led 3-2.

            In the top of the eighth inning, OF Jeff popick delivered a double that hit the top of the fence and stayed in the park. The next batter, Brian Bello, came up and hammered a double down the left field line scoring Greg Anderson from third and moved Popick over to third. The Mavericks took a 4-2 lead heading to the bottom half of the eighth.

            The Vikings threatened in the eighth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Starter Nolan Snell hit a batter to give Augustana a run in the inning and cut the Maverick lead to 4-3. Coach Chris Hanks brought in closer Taylor Hamilton to shut the door and he did just that. Hamilton retired the next three batters he faced in the eighth and faced four batters in the ninth to pick up the save.

            Greg Anderson continued his hot hitting in the tournament finishing 3-for-5 with a double and a RBI.

            Starter Nolan Snell pitched seven innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, walked five and struck out eight. With the win, Snell improves to 7-4 on the season. 

            The Mavericks next game will be determined in the 3:30pm game. Stay tuned to mesamavs.com for tomorrows game times and opponents.