Kearney, Neb. – The Mesa State Maverick baseball team recorded three straight hits with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 8-7, in an RMAC Tournament winner's bracket game Saturday afternoon in Grand Junction, Colo.

The top-seeded Lopers (34-16) will play an elimination game Saturday night at around 8:00 p.m. Central against the winner of New Mexico Highlands and Colorado State-Pueblo. To win the tournament, UNK would also have to beat the second-seeded Mavericks (32-19) twice on Sunday.

In a game delayed nearly an hour due to rain, Mesa scored runs in five straight innings to lead 7-3 after six full. UNK tallied three in the seventh, thanks to a two-run pinch hit single from senior Tim Urban (Vadnais, Heights, Minn.), to make things interesting.

Facing Mesa closer Taylor Hamilton (4-1), senior Daren Grace (3 for 3, three runs) recorded an infield single with two out in the ninth to keep the Lopers alive. Senior 2b G. J. Henry (Denver, Colo.) then roped a single to right center that almost bounced over Mesa center fielder Ryan Shelton.

Senior SS Mike Nowak (Omaha Roncalli) was next up and, with two strikes and no balls, Hamilton uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Grace to tie the game. Hamilton, who worked 2.1 innings, got a strikeout to get out of the inning with Lopers at first and third.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mesa hit two singles after one out to put runners at first and third. Senior right fielder Greg Anderson (3 for 4, thee RBI's) then laced a double to right center to win the game.

UNK had 14 hits in the setback but also hit into three doubles plays, twice failed to get a sacrifice bunt down and stranded 11 runners. On the weekend, the Lopers have left 35 runners on base.

Also, a balk helped Mesa score its run in the fourth.

On the other side of the field, Mesa got the hits when it needed them, finishing with 15 for the game. In the bottom of the sixth, the Mavericks scored three runs after two outs, the big blow being a two-run homer from number nine hitter Colton Little (2 for 4).

Finally for the Lopers, senior CF Jason Trulin (Blair) went 2 for 5 and senior SS Brandon Buchanan (Ft. Collins, Colo.) went 2 for 3.