COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team's season came to an end on Thursday as they were topped by Colorado Mesa University at a final score of 8-4 in game five of the Rocky mountain Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament at Suplizio Field.

The Mountain Lions were out-hit 11-9 in the ball game as the Mavericks hit three home runs to score four of their eight runs. Juniors Matt McDermott and John Mallon led the way offensively for the Mountain Lions as McDermott finished 2-for-4 with a double, and Mallon going 1-for-4 with two RBI off of a two-run home run.

The first half of the game only saw Mavericks crossing the plate as they plated runs in the first five innings. A two-run home run marked the first runs of the game as CMU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. CMU went on to add a run in the second, third, and fifth inning, then tacked on two more in the fourth to have a 7-0 lead through five innings of play.

UCCS was held scoreless through five innings as CMU starting pitcher Garrett Hutson only gave up two hits in the process, as the Mountain Lions struggled to find open green.

In the top half of the sixth inning, UCCS came alive as Walker Rumsey led the inning with an infield single to the shortstop to show some life. McDermott followed Rumsey with the Mountain Lions' first extra-base hit of the game, as the Gold Glove shortstop roped a ball to left field for a stand-up double, placing runners on third and second with no outs. The pinch-hitting Tyler Matheny came up next to make his first appearance of the tournament, and he delivered with an RBI single to right field. A groundball out and a double play ended the inning for UCCS as they cut into the Maverick lead, 7-1.

After a scoreless bottom half of the sixth for the Mavericks, the Mountain Lions posted another run in the seventh. Alex Bates entered the game as a pinch-hitter and made his way to first base off a hit by pitch to put the leadoff batter on. A Cody Norton single put runners on first and second as a Mallon fielder's choice advanced Bates to third and put Mallon on first. Head Coach Dave Hajek called for the third pinch-hitter of the game as Michael Bennin came to the plate to line out to center field for an RBI. The sacrifice play gave UCCS their second run of the game, and brought the score to 7-2.

A CMU solo home run in the eighth marked the next score in the game as the Mavericks increased their lead to six runs, with the game headed into the top of the ninth.

With their backs against the wall, the Mountain Lions would not go down without a fight as they bounced back to put up two runs in the inning. Norton gave UCCS their first runner of the inning by reaching on a walk, as Mallon came up to crush the first pitch of the at-bat for a towering two-run home run to left field. Bennin entered the batter's box next to drive a ball to center field for a double, to still give the Mountain Lions life. After a Rumsey walk placed runners on first and second with one out, the Mountain Lions' next two batters were retired to end the game at a final score of 8-4.

The 2019 baseball season marks the Mountain Lions' third consecutive 20 plus win season, as UCCS has made the RMAC Tournament in all three years of the program's history.