AZUSA, Calif. – The Colorado Mesa baseball team salvaged a split of the mini two-game series with Azusa Pacific as the picked up the win 8-1 on Tuesday (Feb. 27) afternoon at the Cougar Baseball Complex.
The Mavericks struck first in the top of the second inning as
Max Valdez reached on a double and later scored on an RBI groundout by
Max Berni that made it 1-0.
Colorado Mesa added to their early lead as
Joey Blank led off the third inning with a single and moved up to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by
Josh Romans. Blank came around to score on an RBI single by Rob Sharrar to make it 2-0 after two and a half innings of play.
Azusa Pacific got on the board in the bottom of the third with a run to make it 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, the Mavericks first two batters were retired in order before the next four batters in a row reached base safely.
Max Berni singled up the middle followed by a Barden Winget single up the middle.
Joey Blank had an RBI single to right field that scored Berni from third then
Josh Romans delivered the big blow with a triple to right field that brought two runners home. Romans later came around on a wild pitch which broke open the game for the Mavericks who led it 6-1 after four complete.
The score would remain that way until the seventh inning when
Max Valdez would come to the plate and deliver a two-out, two-run double to make it 8-1 and gave the Mavericks a little cushion headed to the later innings.
Valdez finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs driven in while the middle infield duo of Blank and Romans combined to go 5-for-6 with a double, a triple, five runs scored and three runs driven in.
Colorado Mesa used six pitchers in the game, and all pitched well. They combined to allow one run on five hits, walked four and struck out 10. None of Azusa Pacific's hits went for extra bases.
Evan Bunevich was credited with the win as the third pitcher of the day. He pitched two hitless innings and was able to strike out three batters over that time to improve to 1-0 on the season.
The Mavericks have nine days off before they open conference play on the road at MSU Denver beginning on March 8.
