GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa dropped an 8-6 decision to the Angelo State Rams in an elimination game in the NCAA South Central Region Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Suplizio Field. The loss ends the season for the Mavericks.
 
In the two games the Mavericks lost in the tournament, they allowed a huge second inning to the opposition. They allowed seven runs in the second inning today and six runs in the second inning on Thursday evening.
 
The Mavericks clawed back into the game scoring runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings and had a chance in the ninth to tie the game.
 
Senior catcher Austin Wallingford stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game. Wallingford put a charge into an 0-2 pitch from South Central Region Pitcher of the Year Steve Naemark that appeared to be a no doubt home run. Instead the Angelo State left fielder caught the ball about two feet short of a home run.
 
Wallingford closed out his career with a 2-for-4 performance with two runs driven in.
 
James Young III hit his second home run in as many games on Saturday. Young drove a ball over the center field wall in the fourth inning to cut into the Ram lead at the time. He finished with two hits in the game.
 
Nick Cardinale took the loss on the mound and fell to 5-3 on the season.
 
Josh Ballard had his best performance of his career in relief of Cardinale. Ballard pitched six innings and allowed one run (unearned) on four hits, walked two and struck out three. He threw a season-high 74 pitches.
 
Colorado Mesa finishes the season with a 48-9 record.
 
St. Mary's awaits the winner of CSU-Pueblo and Angelo State in the Region Championship game tomorrow at Suplizio Field.