GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Senior pitcher JR McDermott threw eight innings to lead the No 2 Colorado Mesa baseball team to a 5-2 win in the opening game of a four-game series with Colorado Christian on Friday evening at Suplizio Field.
 
McDermott (6-0) allowed two runs on five hits, walked a season-high four batters and struck out eight while throwing 108 pitches. The senior struck out two of the final three batters he faced.
 
Frankie Fitzgerald pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season. The save is his first since the home opener, a 5-4 win over Montana State Billings.
 
Colorado Mesa (23-4) got on the board in the fourth inning by scoring four runs on three hits in the innings. Trevin Reynolds hit a two-run single to center field with Spencer Bramwell scoring on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. Chase Hamilton then flew out to center, allowing Reynolds to score from third base.
 
Reynolds and Will Dixon hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 5-2.
 
Reynolds, the junior from Las Vegas, finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs driven in.
 
The Mavericks and Cougars will be back in action tomorrow at 1pm for a doubleheader at Suplizio Field.