GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 17 Colorado Mesa baseball team split a Friday (May 20) doubleheader with St. Edward's in a best-of-three series for the NCAA South Central Region #2 Tournament at The Diamond at Bus Bergman Sports Complex.
 
In game one of the day, Caleb Farmer's three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Mavericks to a 4-1 win over the Hilltoppers.
 
The senior drove a 3-1 pitch to left field for the go-ahead round tripper that scored both Harrison Rodgers and Johnny Carr. Farmer finished the game 5-for-5 with two runs scored and the three runs driven in including a third inning double.
 
Haydn McGeary and Jordan Stubbings each had two hits in the win.
 
As outstanding as the heroics by Farmer were, the Maverick pitching may have been even more impressive.
 
Ryan Day pitched eight complete innings to earn the win on the mound. Day (6-1) allowed one run on four hits, walked two and struck out 11 in just 107 pitches. The senior struck out the side in both the bottom of the first and the bottom of the fourth innings.
 
Day gave way to Blake Rohm for the ninth inning marking it the first time since February 25 that he made a relief appearance. Rohm allowed two hits, walked none, and struck out two to earn his first save.
 
In the night cap, the Mavericks pitched well enough to win but the offense stranded five runners with three of those in scoring position in a 7-4 loss to St. Edward's.
 
The Hilltoppers plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to split the 4-4 tie heading into the inning.
 
Matthew Turner and Johnny Carr each had home runs in the game with Carr the lone Maverick with multiple hits in the game.
 
Frankie Fitzgerald took the ball in the potential series clinching game and delivered. Fitzgerald allowed four runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out 4.
 
Cade Nicol came in relief of Rohm and delivered one of his best outings of the year. Nicol allowed one hit and struck out six in three innings of work.
 
Fellow senior Dave Henderson took the tough luck loss to drop to 4-3 on the season.
 
In the other half of the region, Angelo State earned the win in game one of the day while Texas A&M-Kingsville won game two to force a winner-take-all game five of the series.
 
Colorado Mesa and St. Edwards will play a winner take all for the NCAA South Central Region #2 tomorrow afternoon at 1pm.