GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The top-ranked Colorado Mesa baseball team scored in six of the eight innings they batted in and held on for a 17-13 win over the UCCS Mountain Lions on Friday (Apr. 10) evening at Suplizio Field in the annual Fireworks Night.
 
Colorado Mesa won round one of the battle of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference heavyweights but it wasn't without drama.
 
The Mavericks tallied two runs in the second, third, and fourth innings to take a 6-2 lead after four innings. They had a big five run bottom of the fifth inning to take an 11-2 lead heading to the top of the sixth.
 
The first comeback attempt by the Mountain Lions came in the top of the sixth inning as they scored four runs to cut into the lead 11-6. But, that was short lived as the Mavericks answered back in the bottom half with four runs of their own including a two-run home run by Rocco DiFrancesco.
 
UCCS took a big bite out of the lead in the top of the seventh inning as they plated seven runs on five hits and left two on in the inning. The tying run was on second when the side was retired and the score was 15-13 heading to the bottom half of the inning.
 
Colorado Mesa got some insurance in the bottom half as they scored two runs on no hits.
 
All nine Maverick starters recorded at least one hit in the game with three Mavericks earning three hits.
 
Kolby Felix finished the game 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two runs driven in. The senior finished just a double short of the cycle and hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Ezra Farmer finished the game 3-for-5 with three runs scored while Landon Nunes went 3-for-5 with four runs scored and a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Trevor Tse drove in four to lead the team.
 
Tyler Genrich paced UCCS with two home runs and seven runs driven in.
 
Caleb Ruter got the start on the mound and pitched into the sixth inning before running out of gas. The senior allowed six runs on six hits, walked one and struck out five to earn his fifth win of the season.
 
The lefty retired the first eight batters he faced in a row before surrendering a hit to the nine-hole batter.
 
Jett Walker pitched a perfect eighth with three strikeouts with Sage Ferguson pitching a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to slam the door on the Maverick win.
 
Colorado Mesa extends their win streak to 17 games and moves their overall record to 35-3 on the season. They move their conference record to 21-0 on the season.
 
The two teams will continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1pm at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark.