Mesa State Easily Wins First Round Contest

Chico, Calif.--Fort Hays State and Mesa State combined for 27 hits and 24 runs in the first game of the Division II West Regional in Chico, California. Mesa State came out on top of the contest as they cruised to an 18-6 victory to advance into the winner's bracket

Fort Hays (35-21), who was looking to upset No. 1 seed Mesa, scored first in the top of the second on a two-run triple by Ryan Wasinger and an RBI single to center off the bat of Jesus Villarreal.

Mesa State (42-15) quickly answered back with four runs in the bottom of the second, as Bill Weinbrecht blasted his sixth homer of the season to open the frame and Steven Woytek tripled to center field to drive in Guido Schena who reached base safely on a bunt. The final run of the inning game on a sacrifice fly by Chad Rocco.

The Mavericks tagged on another seven runs in the third, sending 10 batters to the plate for an 11-3 advantage. Four Mavericks recorded base hits in the inning and three runs had scored before Jake Huff approached the plate with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam just over the 405 sign in center field. Huff

Fort Hays battled back for two unearned runs in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two Mesa errors, but the Mavericks came back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the sixth, including a lead-off homer by Woytek. Huff also singled in the inning to drive in two runs for his game high six RBIs.

Both teams used four pitchers in the game with Mesa's T. Jay Gilpatrick (10-3) earning the win, although he gave up five runs in his five innings of work. Tiger starter Pat Taylor (8-3) suffered the loss, lasting just 2.2 innings and allowing nine runs on eight hits.

This is the seventh time this season these two teams have met with Mesa State now holding a 6-1 advantage in the series. Mesa State beat Fort Hays in the final two games of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament last weekend, 8-4 and 7-5.

Mesa advances into the winner's bracket and will face the winner of the Chico State/Sonoma State Friday at 3 p.m. Fort Hays will play the loser of the Chico/Sonoma game at 11 a.m.

Winner - T. Jay Gilpatrick (10-3). Loser - Pat Taylor (8-3). Save - None.

E - Rocco (2), Mesa; Santangelo, Fort Hays

LOB - Fort Hayes (11), Mesa (6 ). 2B - Duvall (2), Mesa; Branin, Mesa; Weinbrecht, Mesa.

3B - Wasinger, Fort Hays; Schena, Mesa; Woytek, Mesa.

HR - Huff, Mesa; Weinbrecht, Mesa; Woytek, Mesa

SB - Wasinger, Fort Hays; Tatum, Fort Hays

Time - 2:38. Attendance - 133