GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 6 Colorado Mesa baseball team exploded for 16 runs in a 16-0 series opening win over the UCCS Mountain Lions on Friday (Mar. 18) afternoon at Bergman Field in a key Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup.
 
The Mavericks broke things open in the third inning after UCCS starter Jonathan Cowles had them at bay for the first two innings. They led off with back-to-back singles before the first out was made. Then, they rattled off six straight hits including a Max Valdez double and a Harrison Rodgers triple. In all, the Mavericks would score seven runs on nine hits in the inning.
 
Colorado Mesa would then go on to tally six runs in the sixth inning that was highlighted by a two-run home run by Spencer Bramwell. The home run was the lone long ball of the game.
 
They would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the seventh as well.
 
Caleb Farmer paced the Mavericks with a 3-for-4 outing where he scored two runs and drove in three. He also extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
 
Six Mavericks had multi-hit games.
 
David Reckers got the start on the mound and went two innings and didn't give up a hit but walked three and struck out three. He gave way to fellow Californian Cooper Vasquez for the third inning of work.
 
Vasquez was brilliant over six innings of shutout relief as he allowed just two hits and struck out six in earning his second win of the season. He retired 13 in a row which spanned from the third inning until the leadoff man in the eighth inning.
 
Cade Nicol came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning that included two strikeouts.
 
The two teams will be back in action on Saturday with a doubleheader set to begin at 1:00pm.