SAN ANGELO, Texas – Colorado Mesa's Haydn McGeary hit two home runs to push the Mavericks to an 11-9 win over conference foe UCCS in the first round of the NCAA South Central Regional here at Foster Field at First Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
McGeary hit the first of two home runs in the third inning, a two-run blast to center field. Mountain Lion center fielder Walker Rumsey timed his jump and made a good play to rob McGeary's homer but he came up empty handed. The home run cut into the Mountain Lion lead and made the score 4-2.
 
Errors plagued the Mavericks all game long, committing five errors in a game for the first time since game one of the season where they committed six errors in a loss to nationally ranked Northwest Nazarene.
 
The Mountain Lions scored two unearned runs in the first inning then added two more in the second with one of those coming as an unearned run. In fact, only two of UCCS' nine runs were earned in the game.
 
Colorado Mesa had to claw back into the game as they fell behind 5-2 after four innings but the Mavericks were lurking.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the offense came to life. McGeary led off the inning with a walk followed by a Jordan Stubbings single brought to the plate Spencer Bramwell. The junior catcher layed down a bunt that the Mountain Lions tried to get the lead runner at third base and after a challenge, the umpires ruled him safe giving the Mavericks the bases loaded with nobody out.
 
Conrad Villafuerte delivered a two-run double down the left field line followed by a RBI single by Caleb Farmer. Harrison Rodgers executed a safety squeeze to score Villefuerte to give the Mavericks their first lead of the game at 6-5 after five innings of play.
 
Colorado Mesa added one in the bottom of the sixth on Matthew Turner's 23rd home run, a solo shot into the bullpen in left field for a 7-5 lead.
 
The Mountain Lions retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning after scoring four runs in the frame with three of those coming as unearned. UCCS led 9-7 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
 
Colorado Mesa loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half of the inning and low and behold the recently named NCBWA National Player of the Year steps to the plate. On a 1-2 count, McGeary blasted a grand slam over the mini blue monster in left center field for his 20^th home run of the season giving the Mavericks the 11-9 edge.
 
Staff ace Andrew Morris earned the no decision in the game after exiting in the seventh inning. He gave way to Austin Lorenz who was outstanding in his appearance. Lorenz earned the win after pitching the final two and a third innings of perfect baseball.
 
McGeary finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs scored and six runs driven in with those two home runs while teammate Caleb Farmer finished 3-for-5.
 
Jordan Stubbings and Conrad Villafuerte each had two hits in the game.
 
The Mavericks will take on the winner of the night game between the host No. 3 seed Angelo State and No. 2 seed West Texas A&Mat 5:30pm tomorrow at Foster Field.