GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - In the first game of a four game series this weekend, No. 11 Colorado Mesa beat No. 14 Azusa Pacific by a 9-5 final. The Cougars drop to 3-3 to start the season.

How It Happened: Azusa Pacific's lone inning of offensive production came in the top of the third inning, which the Cougars entered trailing by a 2-0 score. After the first batter of the inning struck out, Cade Marshman and George Christison delivered back-to-back singles, and then Tido Robles was able to draw a walk to load the bases for the reigning NCAA Division II Player of the Week, Casey O'Laughlin, who had hit two grand slams on opening weekend. 

O'Laughlin once again seized the opportunity, driving a ball over the fence in right field for his third grand slam and nation-leading seventh home run of the season, which put the Cougars on top by a 4-2 tally. O'Laughlin now has 20 RBI through six games played, which also leads the country. Omar Lopez would be the next to the plate for the Cougars, and he followed with a solo-shot to deep left center field to extend Azusa Pacific's lead to 5-2. Lopez has now homered in consecutive games for the Cougars. 

The Mavericks would answer back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning, and they would score at least one run in five of their final six innings at the plate.

By the Numbers: Azusa Pacific had several defensive miscues, committing five errors. Of the nine runs scored by Colorado Mesa, just five were earned. The Mavericks finished with 15 hits, compared to seven for the Cougars. Andrew White and Brendon Cannings were brought out of the bullpen for the Cougars, and the two combined for two and two thirds innings of work without surrendering an earned run.

Up Next: The series continues tomorrow, with a doubleheader set to start at 12:00 pm MT (11:00 am MT). To watch the games, head over to the RMAC Network.