May 9, 2007

Box Score

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. -- Metro State jumped out to a five-run lead after three innings and the No. 6-seed Roadrunners held on to upset top-seeded Mesa State, 7-5, in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference baseball tournament, Wednesday evening at Suplizio Field.

Metro State led 6-1 after three innings as it scored four runs in the second and two more in the third. Mesa State pulled to within one, 6-5, after six innings, but the Roadrunners did not allow another run in the game. It was Metro State's second win over Mesa State since 2004.

The Roadrunners got four runs in the second as Kyle Christensen had a two-run single and Reece Gorman added a two-run double.

Braden Ham bested 13-game winner Brett Armour on the mound for the Roadrunners, as Ham threw a complete game, allowing nine hits, five runs, all earned, six walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts. Armour gave up eight hits and six earned runs in just 6.1 innings.

Christensen had two RBI, while the all-RMAC catcher Gorman had two hits and two RBI for Metro State. Curtis Englehart led Mesa State with two hits and two RBI. The Roadrunners survived despite committing four errors.

With the win, Metro State improves to 16-33 overall, while the Mavericks fall to 45-11 overall. The Roadrunners take on Nebraska-Kearney, which fell to New Mexico Highlands today, at 7 p.m., Thursday.