GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Coloorado Mesa's JJ Carr hit a walk-off RBI single up the middle that scored John Ballard to send the Mavericks into the RMAC Tournament Championship game with a 4-3 win at Suplizio Field.
 
Matt Haggerty reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning. Ballard pinch ran for him and stole second base during PJ Gonzalez' at-bat, leading to Carr's heroics.
 
The final score was the only lead the Mavericks had all day.
 
Colorado Mines scored one in the second and added another in the third on a Colton Wardle home run down the left field line.
 
Colorado Mesa scored their first run in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI double by Kyle Serrano to make the score 2-1.
 
Both pitchers settled in after the third.
 
Mines starter AJ Valerio retired 11 in a row before giving up a game-tying home run to Bligh Madris, his 15^th home run of the season.
 
Maverick starter Chris Ramirez retired 12 in a row before surrendering a single to Mikey Gangwish in the seventh inning.
 
Ramirez went seven and a third innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walked none and struck out eight but didn't factor into the decision.
 
Jett Wodiuk came in during the eighth and pitched out of a one-out, bases loaded jam that included a web gem by Zach McLeod who laid out and flipped to second for the final out of the inning.
 
Tyler Day came in and threw one pitch in the ninth to earn the win.
 
Colorado Mesa improved to 43-10 on the season while Mines falls to 31-21 on the season.
 
The Mavericks will be gunning for their fourth straight tournament championship tomorrow at 1pm.