ALAMOSA, Colo. – Adams State Baseball will head back out on the road as they head to Grand Junction this weekend to take on the nationally ranked Colorado Mesa Mavericks.
OPPONENT: No. 8 Colorado Mesa Mavericks (27-7, 15-5 RMAC)
WHEN: Friday, April 12 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 (DH) – 1 & 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 14 – 12 p.m.
WHERE: Grand Junction Colo. – Suplizio Field
First Pitch
• Adams State will look to play spoiler this weekend after winning one of four last weekend against UC Colorado Springs.
• They will be taking on the red hot Mavericks who slowed down last weekend against a solid CSU-Pueblo team as they split the series.
• Adams State will be home next weekend to take on the aforementioned CSU-Pueblo team.
Quick Hits
Adams State Baseball History
• Grizzlies Baseball begins its seventh season as an NCAA sport. The program was re-instituted prior to the 2013 season after a 35 year hiatus.
• Prior to the 2013, Adams State last sponsored baseball in 1976 season when the program was still a member of the NAIA.
• Adams State enjoyed quite a bit of success winning back-to-back RMAC championships in 1973 and 1974.
• The Grizzlies posted the best overall record in the conference in each of the last four years (1973-76) while sponsoring the sport before it was discontinued.
The Capra File
• Head Coach
James Capra has led the Grizzlies Baseball in each of the last six seasons. Coach Capra is a graduate of Adams State (Class of 1980).
• Coach Capra was a member of the 1976 team before it was cut. He also played football for three seasons at Adams State and was a three-year starter at wide receiver.
Last Time Out
• Last weekend saw Adams State win one of four games last weekend.
• After a disappointing 14-9 loss that saw loads of offense from both the Grizzlies and the Mountain Lions; Game Two was a pitcher's duel with Adams State securing the 4-3 win.
• Game Three was another disappointing 8-3 loss for Adams State and Game Four was all UC Colorado Springs, with them winning 17-3 and wining the series.
Batter Up!
• The Grizzlies have three hitters over .300 heading into this weekend.
•
Jared Gay now owns the top spot on offense with a .359 batting average. He is 37-103 with a team-high 28 RBI and six home runs. He has scored 20 runs as well and is slugging .612.
•
Nico Nintze is second with a.351 batting average. He is 40-114 with a to go along with four homers and 22 RBI.
•
Logan Bistrup and
Erik Hildebrandt round out the top four in the order with Bistrup at a .322 AVG, 17 RBI, and four triples. Hildebrandt has a .296 AVG, 25 runs scored and six stolen bases
• Bistrup and Hildebrandt are tied for the most At-Bats on the team with 115.
• After looking to change his launch angle, catcher
Josh Billingham hit two long homeruns last weekend and will look to keep the power surge going.
Doing Work on the Hill
• Despite the slow start on the mound on the Grizzlies, their pitching unit has allowed no more than seven runs in their two series wins this year.
•
Troy Gutbub is leading the team in ERA this season with a 7.50 ERA.
• Gutbub has thrown 48.0 innings this season for Adams State, which has resulted in 47 strikeouts, both numbers being best on the team
•
David Maldonado has the second most innings of work for Adams State at 39.2. He has a 9.98 ERA and is 2-5 on the season. He and Gutbub have the most wins on the year for Adams State.
Road Warriors
• The Grizzlies were one the road for their first 14 games on the road before playing a single game on their home turf.
• Adams State will play a total of 26 games on the road this season and 24 games at home after the series shift with Colorado Christian.
Scouting Colorado Mesa
• The Mavericks are 27-7 overall and 15-5 in RMAC competition. They went 2-2 last weekend against CSU-Peublo. They rank No. 8 in the latest NCBWA Top-25 poll after sitting No. 1 for the past couple of weeks.
• Dominic DeMarco is the top hitter for the Mavericks, hitting .375 on the year, with 28 RBI and five home runs.
• Hunter Douglas is the top power hitter on the team with eight home runs, 27 RBI, and a slugging percentage of .607 and a batting average of .352.
• Jordan Stubbings and Chase Hamilton are offensive threats in their own right, with Stubbings hitting .361, and Hamilton hitting .317.
• The Mavericks have a 4.37 team ERA on the year with six pitchers having an ERA under 3.00.
• Garrett Hutson is the top pitcher, with a 1.64 ERA, 56 strikeouts, five complete games and six wins in 49.1 innings pitched
• JR McDermott has also had a great season, with a 2.26 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and six wins on the season in 51.2 innings pitched.
• Will Dixon has a tiny 0.54 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched in relief, with 23 strikeouts.
Up Next
• Adams State will host CSU-Pueblo in a four game series next weekend
• The four game series will begin Thursday, April 18
th, with two games on Friday and one on Saturday. First pitch on Thursday will be at 3 p.m.