Pack falls short in first duel with Mesa

No. 3 Mesa State 6, No. 17 CSU-Pueblo 3

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - One big inning by the homestanding Mesa State Mavericks proved to be enough to secure a win as the ThunderWolves fell to the No. 3 Mavericks 6-3 Friday.

Mesa State scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning, a response to CSU-Pueblo taking a 1-0 lead in the top half of the inning on an RBI triple by Rutger Bovard (Sr., Kent, Wash.), leaving the ThunderWolves playing catchup the rest of the night in cold Grand Junction. 

Mesa State's first three batters reached base in the third, and thanks to a strong outing by starter Brent Lamaster, who improved to 4-0 after allowing five hits in 5-1/3 innings, the Mavericks were able to outlast the scrappy ThunderWolves.

CSU-Pueblo threatened in the sixth inning, when its first four batters reached base, leaving the bases juiced with no outs as the Pack trailed 4-2, knocking Lamaster out of the game.  But two quick outs by reliever Scott Bachman with runners on second and third proved to be the biggest move in a close game.  Mesa State led 4-3 after the sixth, and tacked on two more runs to pad the lead.

Pack starter Mario Mattivi (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) turned in a typical strong performance, going seven innings and allowing five runs, four of which were earned.  Mattivi, the RMAC's win leader, moved to 6-3 on the season with the loss.

The Pack batters were led by a trio of two-hit efforts by Mark Sayas (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.), Bovard and Dan Ninomiya (Jr., Woodinville, Wash.).

CSU-Pueblo will try to take over the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:30 p.m.