GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Coming into Colorado Mesa, California Baptist University wanted to show it could compete with the best NCAA Division II has to offer in its second season as an NCAA member.
 
The Lancers did that in their series against the third-ranked Mavericks, who are next-to-unbeatable at Suplizio Field. Ultimately, things did not break CBU's way again in the series finale Saturday as CMU pulled off a hotly-contested game, 6-4, with another late rally.
 
Colorado Mesa improves to 8-2 on the year heading into conference play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. CBU slides to 5-5 after losing the last two games of the series by a combined three runs to the 2014 Division II runner-up.
 
Andy Crowley had a huge day at the plate for CBU, going 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and one run scored. Jeremy McDonald gave the Lancers a quality start on the mound. The left-hander threw six innings in which he allowed just six base runners (five hits, one walk) and four runs, but only two were earned.
 
CBU was put into a hole in the first inning, with Colorado Mesa taking a 2-0 lead right away, starting the Lancers' mission of tying the game. They got on the board in the top of the third, as John Taurinsky reached with one out on an error. Zack Norris doubled into left field to set up a sacrifice fly from Luke Navigato.
 
The Mavericks jumped back out to a two-run lead, 3-1, with a run in the bottom half of the third. Three innings later, CBU pulled back within a run. Crowley led off the sixth with a single and then moved to second on a wild pitch. A grounder to second base from Stephen Lohr moved him to third and a hard grounder to the same spot from Antonio Chavarria scored Crowley, who was going on contact.
 
Once again, CMU had another response and plated a run to take a big 4-2 lead going into the seventh. The Lancers got their first runner on again in their next chance at the plate, though, as pinch hitter A.J. David singled into right field. A walk put two runners on and a wild pitch moved them both in scoring position to set up a huge two-RBI double into left from Crowley, tying the score at 4-4.
 
The home team threatened to pull in front again when it got two runners on with one out in their half of the seventh. Stephen Carajabal came up with a big strikeout to get the second out of the inning for CBU. Austen Zimarik then induced a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop. Jake Gallaway made a great back-handed play and throw to get the runner out at first and end the threat for the Lancers.
 
Colorado Mesa kept coming, though, and showed why it is so tough to beat at home by scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 6-4 lead it would not relinquish. Crowley did his best to stage another comeback, chopping an infield single over the middle of the field with two outs, but the Lancers could not come up with another hit as the game came to a close.

CBU returns to California for a four-game series with local foe Cal Poly Pomona. The Lancers host the second game of the series on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6:00 p.m.