(02-23-08)
Box Score - DH Game 1
Box Score - DH Game 2
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- Senior Michael Moras had two home runs and Chad Lemos (photo) blasted his second of the day, but the University of New Haven baseball team dropped a tight 6-5 seven-inning decision at the hands of Mesa State College in the second game of a doubleheader at Suplizio Field on Saturday afternoon.
Mesa State prevailed in Saturday's nine-inning opening game, 14-5, behind a four-RBI effort from Andrew Martinez.
These teams will complete the four-game series with a single 9-inning game beginning at noon on Sunday.
DOUBLEHEADER GAME TWO - Mesa State 6, UNH 5 (7 Innings)
Joe Schmidtbauer forced in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh innings on a two-out liner that was ruled an error in right field, lifting Mesa State (8-6) to a 6-5 decision over UNH (0-3).
Pinch hitter Blake Carlquist walked with one away in the bottom of the seventh, and moved to second on a balk by pitcher Mitch Rossi. UNH intentionally walked Curtis Englehart to bring the force-out back into play, and Rossi was able to strike out Chandler Herdt for the second out of the inning.
But Carlquist came around from second base to score the game-winner after a tough sequence in right field. UNH's Greg Steele made a long run to get back to the warning track, only to have the ball glance off his glove on a play that was ruled an error.
It was an unfortunate ending to the game for UNH, which played one of the nation's best teams tough for 7 innings. Matt Sommo struck out eight batters in six innings of work, and UNH tied the contest with three runs in the top of the sixth inning in the most competitive game of the young season so far. But Mesa State, ranked fourth in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll, still managed to win its fourth in a row.
UNH transfer Jimmy Rivas blasted a two-run shot with one away in the top of the sixth to pull the Chargers to within 5-4, and Moras followed with a solo shot in the next at-bat to tie the contest.
Lemos had given UNH a 1-0 lead with a solo homer with two away in the second inning, but Mesa State got a homer and a run-scoring single in the bottom of the third to move ahead 2-1.
UNH tied the contest on Moras's first homer of the season to center field in the fourth, but the lead see-sawed back to the Mavericks as they scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to move ahead 5-2.
Rivas and Moras each drove in two runs and Lemos accounted for the other on his home run, which was his second of the day - and of his career.
DOUBLEHEADER GAME ONE - Mesa State 14, UNH 5 (9 Innings)
Martinez went 3-for-4 with his first homer of the season and four RBI's to pace Mesa State (7-6) to a 14-5 win in the doubleheader opener on Saturday. Mike Provencher and Kyle Hogue also drove in two runs each, and the Mavs broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning. Hogue's homer was his third of the season.
Mesa State had seven doubles and two homers. They added single runs in the second, fourth and seventh innings, and scored five in the bottom of the eighth to turn a 9-5 game into the final margin of victory.
UNH (0-2) got a career-best 3-RBI effort from junior Chad Lemos, who blasted his first career home run and was 2-for-4 overall. Dan Rosa and Jimmy Rivas also collected two hits apiece, with Rosa doubling twice and Rivas once. Cesar Garrido drove in a run for the Chargers.
Mesa State sent 11 batters to the plate during their six-run fifth inning, which turned a tied game into an 8-2 lead. Martinez's homer was a three-run job to left field, while Hogues' was a two-run shot just four batters later.
