GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Top ranked Colorado Mesa salvaged a split on Saturday against the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves at Suplizio Field. The Mavericks maintain their two game lead on the eighth ranked ThunderWolves with a 29-4 overall record and 21-2 in the RMAC.
 
In game one, the Mavericks had the tying run at third base before a ground out to the pitcher ended the game with CSU-Pueblo winning 6-5.
 
Ryan Reno was tagged with his first loss of the season after allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits, walked one and struck out two. He is now 8-1 on the season.
 
After falling behind 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth, Colorado Mesa led the inning off with a home run by Alex Fife, followed by a Zach McLeod double, and a Kyle Serrano two-run round tripper to knot the game at 3-3.
 
The next half inning the ThunderWolves answered back with four runs, all coming with two outs.
 
McLeod and Serrano each finished the game with two hits and a run scored.
 
In the nightcap, Colorado Mesa exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on their way to a 9-1 win over CSU-Pueblo.
 
Zach McLeod finished his day off with a 2-for-3 performance. He scored two runs and drove in two during the game. He had a two-run double in the six run fourth.
 
Alex Fife also had two hits in the game.
 
The story of the game was Nick Cardinale on the mound.
 
Cardinale had traffic on the bases in every inning but was able to work out of a couple of early jams to earn his fourth win of the season. He went 6.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits, walked six and struck out 10.
 
Josh Ballard recorded the final out of the game by way of strikeout.
 
The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow with a single nine-inning game beginning at 1:00pm.