By Jordan Long
Colorado Mesa Baseball started their season this past weekend. They are looking for another deep run in the NCAA Division 2 Baseball Tournament. Going into this year, Mesa was ranked #2 in Division 2 Baseball.
Last year, Colorado Mesa was hoping to win a National Championship for the first time in school history. In 2019 they ended up as national runners up for the second time in school history. They were also eyeing their 9th straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) title. Before the COVID 19 pandemic forced them to stop playing, they were well on their way to making that goal. They were 14-4 while ending on a 6-game winning streak.
Flash forward to this season. They started this past weekend with 2 non-conference opponents at home, Northwest Nazarene University who they faced on Thursday and Saturday. The other was MSU Billings for a doubleheader on Friday.
On Thursday, Colorado Mesa dropped the home opener to Northwest Nazarene University 18-6. Colorado Mesa gave up 19 hits. Colorado Mesa was down 7-0 through 5 innings. Colorado Mesa finally got on the board in the 6th inning but it was only a single run. Northwest Nazarene University added to their lead with 6 in the 7th, 3 in the 8th, and 2 in the 9th. Mesa mustered 5 runs in the 8th but it was too late. Northwest Nazarene University downed Colorado Mesa 18-6. This was not the way Colorado Mesa wanted to start the season.
On Friday they played host to MSU Billings. Mesa’s offense got to work early and often. They outscored MSU Billings 32-16, sweeping the doubleheader. The sweep gave Colorado Mesa Head Coach Chris Hanks his 900th career win. Hanks is #1 all-time not only in Colorado Mesa Baseball but RMAC history as well.
On Saturday, it was a rematch with Northwest Nazarene University. This time Colorado Mesa came out on top with a 5-0 shutout. Colorado Mesa is now 3-1 to end non-conference play.
Looking at the rest of the year, Colorado Mesa knows the offense is going to carry them. They have shown they can score runs, collect base hits, and drive the baseball. Early in the season, they are hitting .354 with 7 home runs. Colorado Mesa hitters have collected 10 doubles but have yet to hit a triple. Once the offense gets the lead for them, this will make the pitcher’s job easier. Pitchers can settle down playing with the lead.
Pitchers are leaving the ball up where a hitter can smack the baseball for base hits. Colorado Mesa has given up 9 home runs, 3 triples, and 7 doubles. Their team ERA is 9.00. Of course, this is a small sample size of 4 games. Pitching will be better going forward this year. Their defense is a bright spot. Colorado Mesa fielders have yet to make an error.
Colorado Mesa is 3-1 which is a pretty good beginning to the year. Of course, they would rather be 4-0 but 3-1 is still decent. Colorado Mesa starts RMAC Conference play this weekend on the road against Adams State. They return home on March 12th through the 14th to play Colorado School of Mines.
Be sure to catch Colorado Mesa Baseball at Suplizio Field. It is going to be one exciting year of College Baseball. Hopefully, their year ends with a National Championship but they have a long ways to go.
Leave a Reply