GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Alex Fife stroked a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning that scored John Ballard from first and PJ Gonzalez from second to give the Mavericks a 6-5 win over Nebraska-Kearney in the season opener for both teams.
 
Nebraska-Kearney opened up the scoring in the fourth inning, picking up four runs on three hits in the inning.
 
But, Colorado Mesa responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, hitting four doubles in the inning. Bligh Madris led off the inning with a double followed by a Jake Druce ground out then three straight doubles by a JJ Carr, James Young III, and PJ Gonzalez.
 
The Lopers took the lead in the top of the eighth on a RBI single off the mini-monster in left field but, the Mavericks answered right back in the bottom half on Fife's double.
 
Nick Borowski earned the win in relief after pitching the final inning and two-thirds of shutout baseball while striking out a pair of batters.
 
Senior lefty Tyler Ehlers got the start on the mound and went three and two-thirds and allowed four runs on four hits, walked two and struck out one.
 
Kyle Serrano, James Young III, and PJ Gonzalez all finished with two hits. Young and Gonzalez each had a run scored and a run driven in.
 
Loper Matt Salamon finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
 
The Mavericks and Lopers will return to the diamond tomorrow at 1pm for another nine-inning game.