Colorado Christian came close to getting a statement win to open RMAC competition, but fell 4-3 and 6-2 to the third-ranked Mavericks on Friday.
 
In the opener, Weston Wiederhold led off CCU's two-run fifth inning with a double to left center and came home to score when the next batter Stephen Galambos singled to center field. Zach Scott, who also doubled, would score Christian's third run on a RBI single by Dustin Conley.
 
The Cougars got a solid effort on the mound from game one starter Matt Weaver, as the freshman struck out four and allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Unfortunately, a Mesa home run in the bottom half of the sixth knotted the game and left Weaver with a no decision.
 
With two runners on in the ninth, Christian had a chance to take the lead but couldn't bring the go-ahead run around, and left CMU with an opportunity of their own in the bottom half of the inning, and the hosts delivered.
 
CCU were denied a chance at the upset as a walk-off single off of reliever Daniel Bednarski gave the Mavericks the win in the day's opening contest.
 
Game two's seven inning affair lacked the drama of the first, but the Cougars showed they wouldn't back down from the RMAC's toughest team. Christian trailed by just a run midway through the game, cutting the Maverick lead in half when a Ryan Silva RBI groundout scored Weston Wiederhold.
 
Mesa found breathing room in the fourth inning, however, scoring three runs on Cougar pitcher Ryan Erazo, who went five innings in the loss.
 
Austin Atkerson's RBI single in the sixth gave Christian a second run but the visitors were unable to rally in their final at-bat.
 
Friday's losses send CCU to 5-5 on the season, with another doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, although expected inclement weather could affect the final two games of the series.