Colorado Mesa ends LCU's season in NCAA regional
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Christos Stefanos homered and Caleb Thomason hit a two-run single as No. 2 seed Colorado Mesa beat No. 6 seed Lubbock Christian University 6-3 Thursday night, ending the Chaparrals' baseball season in the NCAA South Central Region tournament.
Fifth-ranked Colorado Mesa (46-9) won its 18th game in a row. LCU finished 35-22.
The Mavericks erased a 2-1 deficit in the sixth inning on a Harrison Rodgers RBI single and a run-scoring double from Declan Wiesner. Thomason made it 5-2 in the seventh.
The two teams traded runs in the eighth inning with Brevin McCool hitting his 14th home run of the season for the Chaps and Robert Sharrar lifting a sacrifice fly for the Mavericks.
Earlier Thursday, St. Edward's beat LCU 5-2 in the first game of the double-elimination tournament. Colorado Mesa and St. Edward's (40-15) will play at 7 p.m. CDT Friday with each team needing two victories to advance to a super regional next week.
LCU starter Ryan Markwardt (6-6) gave up Stefanos' home run in the first inning. Markwardt went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.
The Chaps went ahead 2-1 in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk by Hayden Blair and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Caden Hensley.
Colorado Mesa starter Jacob Rhoades (6-2) struck out seven in seven innings, allowing six hits. Anthony Durbano pitched the last two innings for his ninth save.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Colorado Mesa ends LCU's baseball season in NCAA regional
