COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Daniel Silva pitched a complete game win in game two and Tyler Matheny went five-for-seven today as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs split with MSU Denver at Spurgeon Field. UCCS (22-21, 17-14 RMAC) fell in the first game 7-4 before a seven-run start in the first inning of game two led to a 9-3 victory against the Roadrunners (20-20, 14-13 RMAC).

Both teams scored one run to start the day in the first inning and the Roadrunners put four runs across in the second inning for a 5-1 lead. The Mountain Lions cut into the MSU Denver lead in the fourth inning with a two-RBI single from Zach Hall, but struggled to put a runner in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings. The Roadrunners added to their lead with a pair of runs in the seventh for a 7-3 advantage, and UCCS scored one in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out single from John Mallon to score Bryan Chapin, but a strikeout ended the comeback chances in a 7-4 loss to MSU Denver.

Chapin and Matheny both went three-for-four as UCCS posted 14 hits in the seven-inning game. Cam Aufderheide took the loss in his first start since March 4.

The first six Mountain Lions reached base in the second game as UCCS took a 7-0 lead after the first inning in the largest single-inning performance since eight runs against Colorado Mines on April 3. UCCS scored the first three runs on a two-RBI double from Colin Ludwig and a fielding error that allowed the third run to score on the same play. The Mountain Lions manufactured the next four runs with two singles, a groundout and a sacrifice fly before a foul ball caught at first base ended the inning.

Both teams went down in order in the second inning. UCCS kept the Roadrunners off the scoreboard in the third inning and finished the top of the third on a relay throw from left field that made it to home plate in time to tag the runner who started the play at first base. The Mountain Lions expanded its lead to 9-0 with a two-RBI double from Matheny in the bottom of the inning.

UCCS used another relay throw from left field in the fourth inning to keep MSU Denver scoreless as the Roadrunners attempted another play at home plate, but MSU Denver broke the shutout with two runs in the fifth for a 9-2 game. The Roadrunners hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth and cut the UCCS lead to 9-3 and put a runner into scoring position in the seventh with one out, but the Mountain Lions used back-to-back force outs at second base to limit MSU Denver to its lowest score in an RMAC game since April 7.

Silva struck out four batters in his first complete game of the season and the second for the Mountain Lion pitching staff. Matheny led the offense with a two-for-three performance and three RBIs.

UCCS will play for a series split when the teams finish with a nine-inning game on Sunday. First pitch is set for noon.