GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – One bad inning was all it took for the sixth-seeded St. Mary's Rattlers to defeat the top seeded Colorado Mesa Mavericks 6-5 on Thursday evening at Suplizio Field in the opening round of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.
 
The Rattler second inning is what did in the Mavericks. They scored six runs on six hits in the inning that included a pair of bunts and a double down the left field line.
 
Colorado Mesa answered back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs, highlighted by a James Young III two-run triple.
 
Young finished the game 1-for-2 with two runs scored and three runs driven in.
 
The Mavericks tacked on single runs in the fourth and seventh inning but couldn't get any closer.
 
The Colorado Mesa bullpen was fantastic in relief. They combined for 7.1 innings pitched and allowed just one hit after the second inning which came in the top half of the ninth inning.
 
Josh Ballard pitched three innings and struck out one.
 
Bligh Madris, PJ Gonzalez and Mitch Robinson all finished the game with two hits.
 
Saint Mary's starter Cody Butler picked up the win allowing five runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out eight in seven innings of work.
 
Rattler Connor Camacho pitched the final two innings, striking out four to earn his fourth save.
 
Colorado Mesa will play a loser-out game tomorrow against St. Edward's at 12pm at Suplizio Field.