Baseball loses opening series

Written by Robert Dran
(rdran@mscd.edu)
Photo by Andrew Bisset
(abisset1@mscd.edu)

Metro baseball managed to claim a victory and avoided a series sweep at the hands of Mesa State Feb. 27 through March 1 in Grand Junction.

Metro scored four runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning of the final game to win 10-9.

Designated hitter Brett Bowman saved Metro from a quick one-two-three inning by singling off Mesa pitcher Aaron Guinn. Bowman advanced to second during the next at-bat when catcher Tyree Abshire singled. After left fielder Marcel Dominguez walked to load the bases, second baseman Tommy Frikken hit a ground ball that turned into a two-run error for Metro. With the teams separated by one run center fielder Chris Redding was walked to load the bases. Shortstop Matt McConnell hit the tying and go-ahead runs with a double off the wall in center field.

Though embarrassed at his teammate’s claim that he was the man who started the rally, Bowman gave a sober assessment of his strategy at the plate.

"[I was] just trying to be aggressive,” Bowman said. “The guys behind me are more important to me. The difference for us in this game is that we kept them close. They're a bunch of good hitters."

Slugging first baseman Jordan Stouffer was quick to compliment his team’s performance after being the first of two outs before the rally.

"I just have to say I am impressed with our team's mental toughness," Stouffer said.

Mesa only managed a single in the bottom of the ninth and Metro held their lead to win the game. The win stopped Mesa's chance at a sweep and ended Metro's three-game losing streak after winning their previous five. No. 4 ranked Mesa defeated Metro in the other three games in the series 18-8, 14-4, and 12-11.

Though Metro was excited to grab an emotional victory, head coach Jerry Schemmel said he felt the team should have done better.

"We could have won [the third game] and split the series," Schemmel said. "In this game, Mesa had four errors and their shortstop was suspended. We played hard and had a no-quit attitude; when that happens you'll win the game."

The normally polite and professional Schemmel was ejected from the third game.

As for the rest of the series, the No. 4-ranked Mavericks out-scored the Roadrunners 41-23 in the three games Mesa won. Metro did come close in the third game with a high scoring 12-11 loss, but Mesa won the game with a walk off home run. Stouffer had a good third game for Metro by going 3-3 with two home runs. He added another in the final game to increase his conference-leading total of eight home runs on the season.

Metro will spend March 6 and 7 playing a pair of doubleheaders against Colorado Christian University in Lakewood.

"They've got a good team this year," Schemmel said of CCU. "We're confident but were not overconfident."