GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 15 Colorado Mesa baseball team completed the four-game sweep of Azusa Pacific after a 6-3 in the series finale on Saturday (Feb. 11) morning at The Diamond in non-conference action.
The Mavericks executed small ball to perfection for their first run of the game in the second inning.
Julian Boyd led off with a bunt single then stole second with Caleb Thomasen at the plate. Thomasen then grounded out to first base that moved Boyd over to third. In his first collegiate plate appearance,
Kolby Felix lifted a ball to right center that was deep enough to score Boyd from third.
Azusa Pacific answered back in the fifth with a solo home run and a two-run single to take a 3-1 lead after five.
Newcomer
Declan Wiesner continued to swing a hot bat and give the Mavericks some punch in the middle of the order. Wiesner smoked his second home run of the season, this one a two-run shot that knotted the score at 3-3.
In the eighth inning, the Mavericks plated three runs without having a ball leave the infield.
Conrad Villafuerte hit a run scoring fielder's choice to shortstop while
Julian Boyd drew a bases loaded walk and
Kolby Felix had a bases loaded hit by pitch to give the Mavericks the 6-3 lead.
Boyd and
Harrison Rodgers each had two hits in the game.
Colorado Mesa got outstanding pitching in the game as
Jacob Rhoades got the start on the mound. Rhoades allowed three runs on five hits, walked none, and struck out two in five innings of work. He didn't factor into the decision but gave way to an outstanding bullpen.
Isaac Hayen followed Rhoades and worked two hitless innings before giving way to
Jordan Ellison. Making his second appearance, Ellison pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout, earning the win in relief.
Anthony Durbano earned his first save after having electric stuff in the ninth. He didn't allow a base runner and struck out two of the three batters he faced.
The Mavericks will be back at home next weekend as they host 2022 East Region Champion Southern New Hampshire for a three-game series beginning on Thursday from The Diamond at the Bus Bergman Sports Complex.
