Craig Lanzarotta’s two-run homer in the fourth inning Saturday gave the Mesa State baseball team its first lead of the game and Mike Provencher’s three-run homer in the seventh inning helped power the No. 6-ranked Mavericks to a 7-2 victory over No. 10 Belmont Abbey (N.C.) in the opening game of the NCAA Division II national finals in Cary, N.C.
Mesa State pitchers, including starter Brent Lamaster (7-1) and relievers Garrett Carpenter and Aaron Guinn, held Belmont Abbey scoreless after the first inning. The Crusaders stranded 13 baserunners.
“This club has been resilient when falling behind. The guys played well,” Mesa State coach Chris Hanks said.
Lamaster pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and two runs. He had four strikeouts.
“I was nervous, just like any other start,” said Lamaster, a senior right-hander.
The Mavericks (44-13) advanced to play Emporia (Kan.) State (47-13) on Monday in a second-round game of the double-elimination tournament.
Emporia State was a 3-0 winner over Grand Valley State on Saturday at USA Baseball’s national training complex in Cary.
