GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 4 Colorado Mesa University baseball team rallied back to secure a 10-9 walk-off victory in extra innings this evening in the opening game of the conference play against the Cowboy of New Mexico Highlands University at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark.
The Mavericks rallied all the way back after being down 7-1 in the fourth inning before tying the game up at nine apiece in the bottom of the ninth and ultimately walking it off in the bottom of the 10th.
This was their first extra-innings game of the season with the last time they played in extras being against Chico State in 2025.
The Mavs have now won their conference opener against the Cowboys in two straight seasons after beating them 11-4 last year.
Colorado Mesa improves to 15-2 overall while starting 1-0 in the RMAC. New Mexico Highlands falls to 5-10 (0-1 RMAC) while being the fourth team in the conference to now have double digit losses.
There were a total of 26 hits managed this evening with both teams finishing with 13. 10 combined pitchers were also utilized.
Prior to the late inning scuffles, the Mavs jumped out to lead the game just two pitches into play in the bottom of the first as Kolby Felix hit his team-leading fourth home run over the left field fence.
This was his second time this season he has hit a home run in his first plate appearance of the game.
The Cowboys got one run back in the top of the third after taking advantage of three walks and two hits before featuring their biggest inning of the day in the top of the fourth.
They scored six runs to take the 7-1 lead that inning with them recording seven hits and forcing CMU to make three pitching changes.
The Mavs responded with a four-run bottom frame though to bring it back within two runs.
Trevor Tse brought in the first of those runs on a bunt single before Rocco DiFrancesco brought in another on a bases loaded hit by pitch.
Kennedy Hara followed with a two-run RBI single to right field to bring in a couple more runs.
Hara then continued his hot hitting into the sixth inning with him hammering a home run to left field to make it 7-6.
NMHU added two runs in the seventh to regrow their lead after recording three straight hits to start the inning with a double and a groundout doing the damage.
The Mavs, still not out of the fight, battled back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to keep it at a one-run decision as Ezra Farmer tripled in a run and Hara hit a sacrifice fly to bring the other.
The Cowboys came just one out away from winning the game in the ninth inning but a clutch RBI single from Landon Nunes would escape that ending as they moved into extras.
Jett Walker worked a clean top of the tenth inning before the Mavs went to the bottom with another chance to win the game.
After having the leadoff batter fly out, the Mavs were able to get a runner to second base in their attack with them taking advantage of key dropped ball by the Cowboys' right fielder.
The Cowboys were able to force another Mav out in the next batter before Kolby Felix was able to work a four-pitch walk.
Farmer was the ensuing batter to come up next with him delivering a single to shallow left field to walk it off and give the Mavs the 10-9 victory.
Of the Mavs 13 hits, four different players recorded multi-hit performances with Joey Blank leading the group, going 3-5. Hara added four RBIs himself while going 2-4.
Walker was credited with the win to improve to 2-0 this season while six other pitchers for CMU pieced together the first nine innings.
The Mavs and Cowboys will continue the 4-game series tomorrow with a double header. First pitch is slated for a 12 p.m. start.
