GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa baseball team comeback effort fell just short as they fell 9-6 to the Montana State Billings Yellow Jackets in the series finale on Saturday (Mar. 4) afternoon at The Diamond at the Bus Bergman Sports Complex.
 
Heading to the ninth inning they trailed 9-2, but they were able to plate four runs in the inning to cut the lead to 9-6 with just one out. The final two outs came on well struck balls and the Mavericks stranded the final runner on second base.
 
Colorado Mesa had an opportunity in the bottom of the sixth inning to even things up or take the lead. They had the bases loaded with nobody out but couldn't get a run across. Batters went down in order on a fielder's choice, strike out and ground out to end the threat.
 
Julian Boyd finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two runs driven in while Conrad Villafuerte finished with two hits.
 
Jacob Rhoades got the start on the mound and pitched well. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits, walked three and struck out seven in five innings of work. He took the tough luck loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
 
The Mavericks will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play next weekend in Grand Junction. They will host MSU Denver in a four-game series beginning on Friday at 3:30pm at The Diamond.