Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 2 Colorado Mesa baseball team split a Friday (Feb. 18) doubleheader with the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets at Canyon View Park.
In game one of the day, the Mavericks issued nine walks and hit two others while Montana State Billings' Matthew Houlihan was brilliant in a complete game effort in a 5-4 win for the visiting Yellowjackets.
Houlihan pitched all nine-innings for MSUB and allowed four runs on eight hits walked two and struck out nine with 115 pitches. After being on the ropes in the fifth inning, Houlihan settled in and retired seven in a row at one point.
The Mavericks threatened in the ninth inning as
Spencer Bramwell led off the inning by reaching on an error.
Chase Hamilton sacrificed pinch-runner
Jared Grenz over to second before
Robert Sharrar drew a four-pitch walk.
Julian Boyd stepped to the plate but bounced into a game-ending double play.
Colorado Mesa led 4-2 after the fifth inning after an RBI double by
Harrison Rodgers and a RBI single by Bramwell in the fifth inning.
Haydn McGeary delivered an RBI triple to right center in the fifth inning as well.
Matthew Turner had the lone multi-hit effort for the Mavericks while newcomer
Dave Henderson was saddled with the loss on the mound. Henderson allowed two runs on one hit, walked one and struck out two in an inning and two-thirds.
In the night cap,
Haydn McGeary was 5-for-5 and led the Mavericks to two big innings in a 12-7 win in game three of the series.
After being held scoreless in the first inning, Colorado Mesa erupted for five runs in the second and never trailed after.
Jordan Stubbings delivered a RBI double and
Haydn McGeary laced a RBI single through the right side in the inning. Sandwiched in-between those two hits,
Matthew Turner delivered his first home run of the season, a three-run moon shot to left field to stake the Mavericks to a 5-1 advantage.
Montana State Billings answered with three runs in the third inning. But, once again the Mavericks responded with their second straight five run inning. McGeary provided the highlight of the inning with a two-run single to help give the Mavericks a 10-4 lead.
After the Yellowjackets tallied three runs in the fourth inning to cut it to 10-7, the Mavericks delivered the final blow with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning.
Caleb Farmer drilled a 0-1 pitch to right center for an RBI triple followed by a RBI double by McGeary.
Cade Nicol earned the win in relief of starter
Kannon Handy. Nicol pitched just one inning and allowed one hit and one hit batter. He gave way to
Garrett Tisdall who was spectacular in relief. The senior pitched the final three innings to earn the rule book save. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out five in just 57 pitches.
Colorado Mesa moves their record to 6-1 on the season while Montana State Billings falls to 5-6 on the season.
The two teams will close out the series tomorrow with a single nine-inning game beginning at noon from Canyon View Park.
