GRAND JUNCTION, Co. – The No. 9 Colorado Mesa University baseball team secured their second-straight series win this afternoon as they won both games of a double header against MSU Billings at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark.
The Mavericks won by scores of 7-2 and 14-3 in games two and three of the series with them now winning the last six series matchups against MSUB dating back to 2019.
Colorado Mesa improves to 9-2 on the season while dropping the Yellowjackets to 6-8.
In the opening game of the day the Mavs used key hitting down the stretch to break away as they secured the win after narrowly leading by just two runs after six innings of play.
Through the first two innings, both teams threw up zeros to begin with pitching being a big factor as there were never more than two runs scored in a single inning.
The Mavs jumped on the board first in the third as Landon Nunes recorded a two RBI single to bring in both Kolby Felix and Ezra Farmer.
The Yellowjackets got a run back in the top of the fourth soon after, but the Mavs responded with Brooks Bachman driving in a run to follow in the bottom of the inning.
MSU Billings added another run in the sixth inning as they loaded the bases but were limited to just the one as Trevor Tse stopped the rally on a runner thrown out at the plate.
Shortly after, Kennedy Hara delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to make the game a two-run difference again.
Cameron Cartwright and Joey Blank added to the lead in the seventh with each of them driving in two more runs.
Farmer capped off the scoring by doubling in another run in the eighth.
Caleb Ruter got the start in the game, going four innings of one-run ball while allowing just five hits and striking out four.
Aidan Biaggi went 1.2 innings in relief to earn the win before giving way to CJ Zhawlen who pitched the final 3.1 innings, en route to his second save of the season.
As an offense, the Mavs recorded 11 hits in the win with Farmer going 3-5 and Felix going 2-3 to lead the squad.
Following the strong game one performance, the Mavs built on their offensive showings late in the night cap as they scored 11 runs over the final three innings.
In the first inning, both teams put up two runs each with the Yellowjackets recording four hits and the Mavs' collecting two.
Landon Nunes and Trevor Tse drove in both of the runs for the Mavs.
Colorado Mesa then added another run in the third inning after Joey Blank recorded a single to left field, driving in Cartwright.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Mavs exploded offensively in the fifth and sixth innings totaling 11 runs on nine hits.
They totaled five of those hits and runs in the fifth inning with them recording three straight bunt singles to start the frame before Blank, Noah Neufeld, Keegan Landis and Felix each recorded RBIs.
The Mavs then put up a six-spot in the sixth inning with Blank driving in another pair, Hara knocking in one and Felix hitting in two as well. Braden Cox brought the final run in on a hit by pitch.
The Yellowjackets managed one run back in the top of the seventh inning but were struck out to end the game on the following batter.
The Mavs totaled 13 hits in the game with the duo of Cartwright and Blank leading the way as they each recorded three hits apiece.
Cayden Clark earned the win in relief going two innings while allowing just one hit. He relieved Rafael Espinoza who went the first three innings.
Three freshmen also made their collegiate debuts in the game as Cox, Cade Green, and Simon Lunsford each saw the field.
Colorado Mesa and MSU Billings will face off one more time this weekend when they conclude the series tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
