GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The top-ranked Colorado Mesa baseball team received a solid pitching performance and used a persistent offense to pick up a 12-0, mercy-rule shortened game against the Regis Rangers on Friday (afternoon at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark.
 
Senior Caleb Ruter earned the start on the mound and was outstanding. Ruter allowed just three hits in six shutout innings to earn his sixth win of the season. The Arvada, Colo. native allowed a pair of singles to left field and a bunt single in the fifth.
 
The big lefty struck out six and didn't allow a walk in during the start.
 
Logan Gross pitched the seventh and final inning of the game and struck out the side.
 
The Maverick hitters scored runs in five of the seven innings they batted in including a big five spot in the bottom of the seventh which eventually ended the game early.
 
Redshirt senior catcher Rocco DiFrancesco swung the hot bat for the Mavericks as he finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four runs driven in.
 
The Dana Point, Calif. native got things started in the top of the second inning with a two-run single to center field and followed it up with a two-run single to left field as a part of the five-run seventh.
 
The three hits and four RBIs tie career-highs for DiFrancesco.
 
Landon Nunes finished the game 2-for-2 with a double and a home run. Nunes hammered a two-run round tripper in the bottom of the third inning which came as the second home run of the inning. The Oakdale, Calif. native added three runs scored and swiped a base in the game.
 
Cameron Cartwright had the other home run in the inning. The senior sent an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left center field for his fifth of the season. The Parker, Colo. native just missed one in the first inning flying out to deep center field.
 
The Mavericks stole eight bases in the game with two coming from Cartwright, Joey Blank and Tate Blasi and one each from Nunes and Keegan Landis. The eight stolen bases bring the Mavericks total for the season up to 102.
 
Colorado Mesa is now 39-3 on the season and 25-0 in the conference. They have now won 21 games in a row dating back to March 13.
 
The two teams will continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1pm from The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark.