DENVER –
Daniel Silva struck out six batters in his five and one-third innings start in game one, but the University of Colorado Colorado Springs struggled to generate offense in a pair of setbacks in a doubleheader at the MSU Denver Regency Athletic Complex. The Mountain Lions (17-17, 12-11 RMAC) fell 4-2 in game one against the host Roadrunners (15-17, 11-11 RMAC) and 8-2 in game two against Regis (23-11, 16-7 RMAC) today.
UCCS started the day with back-to-back singles and took a 2-0 lead against MSU Denver with runs from
Zach Hall and
Tyler Matheny. The Roadrunners took advantage of an error in the bottom of the first to cut the Mountain Lion lead to 2-1 and manufactured a run in the third to tie the game at 2-2.
The Mountain Lions drew a walk in the fifth inning but couldn't put a runner on base again until a pair of singles in the ninth inning. The Roadrunners scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and another in the eighth inning for the 4-2 score against UCCS.
In the second game of the day and the second of the weekend against Regis, both teams put up strong defenses with five combined base runners through the third inning. The Rangers scored the first runs of the game with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth and scored three more runs in the fifth for a 6-0 advantage against UCCS. Regis hit back-to-back solo home runs in the seventh inning and extended its lead to 8-0.
The Mountain Lions opened the eighth inning with back-to-back hits but a double play ended the scoring opportunity. UCCS loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning and a sacrifice fly from
Jamie Crabtree scored Matheny to break the shutout. A successful pickoff attempt at first base made it two outs against the Mountain Lions, but a double down the right-field line by
John Mallon scored
Efrain Medina and cut the Ranger lead to 8-2. Mallon moved to third on a single from by
Bryan Chapin but a force out at second base ended the rally for UCCS.
Chapin went two-for-three in game two and a combined three-for-seven in today's doubleheader.
Colin Cicere took his first loss of the season in a six and one-third inning start.
UCCS will close out the weekend with a single nine-inning game against MSU Denver on Sunday. First pitch is set for noon.