SERIES HISTORY WITH UCCS
The Mavericks have had a decent amount of success against the Mountain Lions dating back to when the program was established at UCCS. Colorado Mesa is 26-9 in the all-time series with a handful of battles along the way.

Maybe the most memorable came in 2021 in the heels of COVID. The two teams played three straight times twice in the RMAC Tournament and once in the NCAA South Central Regional. The Mavericks were 2-1 in those three including an 11-9 win in the NCAA Tournament.

The Mavericks took three of four games in frigid Colorado Springs last season and they outscored the Mountain Lions 38-23.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
The Mountain Lions have had a strong season thus far entering this weekend's matchup with the Mavericks with a 19-14 overall record and 8-8 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They are coming off a split of nationally ranked Fort Hays State on the road during their conference bye week.

The Mountain Lions boast a .347 team batting average led by Bryce Peterson at .423. The junior has a hit in his last six games and multiple hits in four of his last six games.

Local products Ryder Mancuso and Josh Zotto have pitched well for the Mountain Lions combining for a 7-1 record in 60 IP.

DECLAN DOES IT
Colorado Mesa senior backstop Declan Wiesner was named the RMAC Player of the Week after batting .700 (7-for-10) in the series sweep of the Adams State Grizzlies. He finished the weekend with three doubles, two home runs and four runs driven in. He made three starts and played in all four games while adding seven runs scored and an OPS of 2.327. In game three of the series, the Castle Rock, Colo. native went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two doubles.

By winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week honor, Wiesner was eligible for the NCBWA Regional Player of the Week honor. For the first time this season, the Mavericks won that award with Wiesner taking it home. He became just the third player from the RMAC to win the award this season.

RETURNING TO FULL STRENGTH
Junior right-hander Sage Ferguson continues to progress after coming off an injury and he took another really big step to returning to fully healthy. Ferguson made his first start of the season against Adams State and allowed three hits and four strikeouts in four shutout innings to pick up his second win of the season. 

The Kiowa, Colo. native has now pitched 13 innings on the season and allowed one unearned run on eight hits and struck out 17. His WHIP is at 0.62 and opponents are hitting just .163 off of him. He will likely start on the mound in one of the games on Saturday against UCCS.

LOCK DOWN
Local product Gauge Lockhart has turned into the Mavericks staff ace after his play through his first six starts (eight total appeances) of the season. He is among the nation's leaders in both wins and hits allowed. The Delta, Colo. native is the RMAC leader and ranks eighth nationally in wins at seven with wins in six straight starts. He is also the RMAC leader in hits allowed per nine innings at 6.32, good enough for No. 27 nationally.

For the season, he is 7-0 with a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference leading 3.16 ERA. Lockhart has allowed 13 earned runs, on 26 hits and struck out 33 batters in 37 innings pitched. Admittedly, his walk numbers are a touch high at 21.

KINGS & QUEENS
The Colorado Mesa baseball and softball teams have ascended to the top of the standings on both sides for the second straight season. The Maverick softball team now sits in first place with a showdown with Colorado Christian on the road this week while the baseball program has been in the top spot since the beginning of the conference schedule at 19-1. 

In the past 15 seasons, both programs have won the regular season eight times (the baseball team is going for their 13th straight regular season title) and have had the priviledge hosting both the baseball and softball conference tournaments in the same year. This year would make it nine if both hold on in the final weeks of the regular season. 

The two programs combined record this year is 54-17 with the next closest program being MSU Denver at 50-24.

MAVERICKS IN MILB
The Colorado Mesa baseball team currently has six players competing at some level of professional baseball. All eight finished in the minors but two of them saw action in Major League Baseball during the 2024 season. Check out the full list of Colorado Mesa Baseball Alums and ways to follow along on their professional journey:

Bligh Madris (2015-18) // Detroit Tigers
Kyle Leahy (2016-18) // St. Louis Cardinals
Haydn McGeary (2019-22) // Chicago Cubs
Spencer Bramwell (2018-22) // Miami Marlins
Caleb Farmer (2018-22) // Washington Nationals
Andrew Morris (2019-21)  // Minnesota Twins

RMAC DOMINATION
Colorado Mesa won its 12th straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title in 2024 and was the unanimous selection to win their 13th in row in the RMAC Preseason Poll as selected by the coaches prior to the season. 

Since 2009, Colorado Mesa has won 82 percent of their games against RMAC competition as they have a 492-106 record in that span prior to the season.

THE BEST AROUND
Two seasons ago, head coach Chris Hanks eclipsed the 1,000 win mark in his career. He is one of just 21 head coaches across NCAA Baseball that is over the 1,000 win mark and is fifth in wins in NCAA Division II of active head coaches.

Top-10 Division II Active Head Coaches by wins
1. John Schaly (Ashland) - 1,337-729 (38 seasons)
2. Greg Guilliams (Flagler) - 1,203-592 (35 seasons)
3. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock) - 1,140-752 (40 seasons)
4. Bob Fornelli (Pittsburg State) - 1,104-490 (29 seasons)
5. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa) - 1,095-422 (27 seasons)
6. Joe Urso (Tampa) - 1,036-293 (25 seasons)
7. Jim Gantt (Catawba) - 1,016-511 (29 seasons)
8. Greg Appleton (Columbus State) - 987-515 (28 seasons)
9. Tim Mead (Walsh) - 948-962 (42 seasons)
10. Brad Hill (Emporia State) - 923-527 (26 seasons)

NCAA Active Head Coaches with 1,000 wins
1. Paul Mainieri (South Carolina) - 1,524
2. Danny Hall (Georgia Tech) - 1,437
3. John Schaly (Ashland) - 1,337
4. Bob Babb (Johns Hopkins) - 1,326
5. Tom Austin (Methodist) - 1,305
6. Dave Van Horn (Arkansas) - 1,284
7. Elliott Avent (NC State) - 1,281
8. Greg Guilliams (Flagler) - 1,203
9. Rich Hill (Hawaii) - 1,195
10. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock) - 1,140
11. Bob Fornelli (Pittsburg State) - 1,104
12. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa) - 1,095
13. Rick Heller (Iowa) - 1,061
14. Steve Owens (Rutgers) - 1,061
15. Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt) - 1,051
16. Joe Urso (Tampa) - 1,036
17. Mike Bianco (Ole Miss) - 1,030
18. Augie Schmidt (Carthage) - 1,018
19. Jim Gantt (Catawba) - 1,016
20. Yogi Lutz (Alvernia) - 1,013
21. Rich Maloney (Ball State) - 1,011