PUEBLO, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs junior center fielder Zach Hall completed the cycle with the game-winning home run in the top of the 11th inning and led the Mountain Lion to an 8-7 extra-inning victory against Colorado State-Pueblo at Rawlings Field. The Mountain Lions (4-3) won the three-game series against the ThunderWolves (2-4) in non-conference action.

Hall recorded a natural cycle with a single to start the game in the first inning, a double in the fifth, a triple in the ninth and a home run in the 11th. It was the first cycle in program history and the first four-hit game in program history.

CSU-Pueblo opened a 3-0 lead in the first two innings before UCCS made a one-run game in the top of the fourth. The Mountain Lions took advantage of two ThunderWolves errors in the inning to make it a 3-2 after runs from Tyler Keil and John Mallon. CSU-Pueblo scored the next three runs in the bottom of the fourth and in the fifth to open a 6-2 advantage.

Both pitching staffs were efficient in the six with just one combined base runner. Colin Ludwig opened the seventh with a single through the right side and advanced to second after Parker Johnson's single on the left side. Brant Chapin hit his first home run of the season to cut the CSU-Pueblo lead down to one run at 6-5. Keil threatened to tie the game with a two-out double and advanced to third on a passed ball, but a groundout to third ended the inning for UCCS.

The pitching staffs allowed a combined base runner in the bottom of the seventh and the entire eighth. The effort continued with the first two batters for UCCS in the top of the ninth as the ThunderWolves retired both with a pair of groundouts to second base. Chapin drew a walk to reach base and then tied the game at 6-6 after Hall's triple to right center field. Hall put the Mountain Lions in the lead for the first time in the game at 7-6 after a single from Keil, and UCCS put runners on first and second before Bryan Chapin ground out to shortstop to end the rally.

Joe Slocum entered the game in an attempt to close out the series, and was on his way after a strikeout and flyout with his first two batters. A solo home run over the 400-foot center field wall tied the game at 7-7 before Slocum earned his second strikeout of the inning to force the first extra-inning game for the Mountain Lions.

Ludwig reached scoring position after he singled and stole second, but was stranded after back-to-back strikeouts. The ThunderWolves used back-to-back hits to put two on base, but UCCS turned a double play with a diving catch by Keil in left field and the throw the second to get the runner out to force an 11th inning.

Hall's home run on his first pitch in the 11th over the right field wall broke the 7-7 tie, and it would be the only hit for the Mountain Lions in the 11th. Colin Pratt entered into the game with a save opportunity and allowed only a one-out single before he closed the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the 8-7 road win.

Hall finished four-of-six at the plate with two runs and two RBIs to pace the Mountain Lion offense. Keil and Ludwig both went two-of-five and Brant Chapin went one-of-two with the three-run home run. Slocum earned his first win of the season with his two-inning appearance and Pratt earned his first save.

UCCS will open the home season with a four-game series Feb. 17-19 against Nebraska-Kearney at Spurgeon Field. The Lopers are 4-3 with wins in their last two games against Truman and Ouachita Baptist.