GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The top-ranked Colorado Mesa baseball team needed a come-from-behind effort to advance to the NCAA South Central Super Regional after a 7-4 win over No. 23 St. Edward's on Saturday (May 20) afternoon at The Diamond at the Bus Bergman Sports Complex.
 
Colorado Mesa got on the board first in the game as they manufactured a run that came in on a bloop single by Conrad Villafuerte. Robert Sharrar reached on a single and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Julian Boyd. Sharrar stole third and came around on Villafuerte's hit.
 
They wouldn't score again until the fifth inning as St. Edward's plated three runs between the third and fourth innings.
 
Robert Sharrar got one back in the fifth as he blasted his 11^th home run of the season. He sent a 1-1 heater he saw over the fence to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
The Mavericks exploded in the eighth inning to take the lead for good. After Stevenson Reynolds drew a five-pitch walk, Harrison Rodgers sent a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right field that nearly hit the softball scoreboard in the air. It was his 15^th round tripper of the season and gave the Mavericks a 4-3 lead.
 
Just two batters later, Christos Stefanos sent a no-doubter over the left center field wall for his eighth home run of the season and gave the Mavericks some cushion at 5-3.
 
Later in the eighth, Sharrar doubled down the right field line that allowed Declan Wiesner to score from second base as he reached on a hit by pitch earlier in the inning. It was Sharrar's third hit of the game and gave Colorado Mesa a 6-3 lead.
 
Colorado Mesa would get an insurance run in the ninth on a Caleb Thomason sacrifice fly to center field that scored Villafuerte.
 
The Maverick pitching staff was exceptional on the day. Despite falling behind early in the game, the bullpen stuck with it and gave the Mavericks every opportunity to take the lead.
 
Kannon Handy got the start and pitched the first four innings of the game and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, walked three and struck out two.
 
He gave way to his bullpen who may have been the stars of the game. Cade Nicol came in and allowed just one hit over the next three innings of work while striking out four in only 42 pitches. Nicol earned the win and moved his record on the year to 4-1.
 
Senior closer Anthony Durbano came on to close out the game with a two inning save. He pitched the final two innings and allowed one run on three hits, walked one and struck out three while throwing 46 pitches.
 
Things weren't all clearcut late in the game as St. Edward's had traffic in the ninth. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Hilltopper Connor Cox hit a home run to right center field followed by a Lance Little single. Cullen Ainsworth came up and was hit by a pitch bringing up pinch hitter Luke Johnson.
 
With a 1-2 count, Johnson launched a long ball down the left field line that eventually went foul but gave the near 900 people in attendance a scare. On the next pitch, Durbano retired Johnson via the strikeout.
 
With the win the Mavericks ran their winning streak to 20 games and will advance to the NCAA South Central Super Regionals for the third straight time in as many opportunities since the NCAA adopted the format.
 
Colorado Mesa will await the results of the NCAA South Central Region #1 Tournament in San Angelo, Texas. If Angelo State wins, the Mavericks will be headed back to San Angelo, Texas for the second straight year, but if Texas-Tyler were to win the final two games in the tournament, they would come to Grand Junction next weekend.