GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Down 8-0 and staring at their first home loss of the season, the No. 9 Colorado Mesa Mavericks put together one of the wildest innings in program history Saturday afternoon, scoring 13 runs in the bottom of the eighth to stun No. 13 Augustana 15-8 and complete the four-game sweep at The Diamond.
The Inning That Will Be Talked About for Years
Seventeen batters came to the plate. Thirteen runs crossed. Eight hits, three home runs, and four Augustana pitching changes later, Colorado Mesa had turned an 8-2 deficit into a 15-8 lead in a span of roughly 35 minutes.
It started innocently enough with Keegan Landis crushing a two-run homer in the seventh to make it 8-2. Then the dam broke.
Ezra Farmer tied the game with a two-run shot in the eighth. Kennedy Hara and Landis followed with back-to-back two-run doubles. A bases-loaded walk to Farmer gave CMU its first lead at 9-8. Rocco DiFrancesco capped the explosion with a two-run single that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
The Mavericks sent every hitter in the lineup to the plate twice in the same inning — a feat rarely seen at any level of college baseball.
Key Performers in the Comeback
- Keegan Landis: 3-for-5, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 runs scored
- Ezra Farmer: 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, drew the go-ahead bases-loaded walk
- Kennedy Hara: 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI
- Rocco DiFrancesco: Clutch two-run single to blow the game open
- Joey Blank: 3-run homer in the eighth, part of the 17-batter barrage
Starting pitcher Cole Doherty battled through six tough innings but the bullpen — particularly Ryan Day and Tyler Glowacki — kept Augustana scoreless in the seventh and eighth to set the stage.
What the Sweep Means
Colorado Mesa improves to 18-3 overall and has now won 14 of its last 15 games. More importantly, they handed Augustana (12-5) its first four-game losing streak since 2021 and dropped the Vikings in the latest NCBWA rankings.
The Mavericks have swept three ranked opponents already this season (Tampa, Augustana, and earlier Angelo State) and own the nation’s longest active home winning streak at 18 games dating back to last April.
Head coach Chris Hanks after the game: “That’s the best inning I’ve ever been a part of in 30 years of coaching. These guys just kept passing the baton. Nobody tried to be the hero — they just kept putting together quality at-bat after quality at-bat.”
Looking Ahead to RMAC Play
The Mavericks now turn their attention to conference action. They open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this Friday against New Mexico Highlands in a four-game series at The Diamond, with first pitch Friday at 3 p.m.
With the way this offense is clicking — averaging 11.5 runs per game during the current 10-game win streak — Colorado Mesa has firmly established itself as the team to beat in the RMAC and a legitimate national title contender in Division II.
Moments like Saturday’s eighth inning are why players choose college baseball. Down eight runs, season on the line against a top-15 opponent, and an entire roster refuses to quit.
That’s not just a win. That’s the kind of victory that defines programs and creates legends.
What did you think of that comeback? Drop your favorite moment from the inning below, and if you’re sharing on social media, use #MavUp — it’s already trending across Colorado baseball circles.
