GOLDEN, Colo. –
Colin Cicere struck out six batters in game one and
Bryan Chapin hit two home runs in game two as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs swept Colorado School of Mines in a doubleheader today for a series split against the Orediggers at Jim Darden Field. The Mountain Lions (16-15, 11-9 RMAC) won 14-10 in the first game in nine innings and used Chapin's home run in the seventh and final inning of the second game for a 7-6 victory against the Orediggers (12-17, 9-7 RMAC).
UCCS took an 11-0 after the first two innings with 10 hits. The Mountain Lions scored three in the first inning and added eight in the second inning off of six hits, three walks and two errors by the Orediggers. Cicere held Colorado School of Mines without a hit until the fourth inning, and the Orediggers took advantage of the early double near the start of the fourth to put a run on the board.
Jamie Crabtree hit a two-out double in the fifth and scored
Colin Ludwig for a 12-1 Mountain Lion lead and Mines responded with a three-run home run to cut the lead down to 12-4. Each team scored one run in the sixth and made it a 13-5 game, and UCCS made it a 14-5 lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Ludwig that scored Tayler Matheny.
Mines scored once in the eighth and rallied in the ninth with four runs, but the Mountain Lions held off the Orediggers in the 14-10 victory. The 14 runs were the most for the Mountain Lions this season. Each member of the UCCS batting order recorded a hit and seven finished with two hits. Cicere struck out six batters in an eight-inning start and improved to 6-0.
Colorado School of Mines continued the momentum with four runs in the first inning of game two for an early 4-0 lead, but the Mountain Lions responded with four runs in the top of the second and tied the game. Ludwig led off the third with a home on his first pitch to make it a 5-4 UCCS advantage and Chapin hit a two-out home run later in the inning to push the lead to 6-4.
The Orediggers led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, and scored on a single by the next batter to make it a 6-5 Mountain Lion lead. UCCS put runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings with only one out, but couldn't expand the lead as Mines tied the game at 6-6 with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Crabtree earned a leadoff walk in the seventh inning, but
John Mallon struck out and Crabtree was picked off at first base as the Mountain Lions collected two outs early in the inning. Chapin was behind in the count at 1-2 before he hit his home run to left-center field as UCCS retook the lead at 7-6. A fly ball to center field ended the top of the seventh, but
Joe Slocum earned his seventh save of the season with only one base runner in the bottom of the seventh as UCCS earned the sweep of Mines today.
Zach Hall went three-for-four in the second game in his second three-hit game of the season. Chapin was two-for-three with his pair of home runs and Mallon went two-for-four.
Cam Aufderheide earned the victory in three innings of relief.
UCCS will return to the Denver metro area for an RMAC pod series with MSU Denver and Regis. The series will begin with a 3:30 p.m., game on Friday, April 7, against Regis at MSU Denver's Regency Athletic Complex.
