COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team split the Saturday double-header with #25 Colorado School of Mines today, with UCCS taking the first game and CSM taking the second. Much different from yesterday's offensive onslaught, the two games today totaled a pedestrian nine runs between both teams as UCCS took the first game 3-1, and CSM took the second game 3-2.

In game one, Colin Cicere got the ball for his last home start in his UCCS career, and he delivered with his second consecutive stellar outing. After taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Cicere would finish his second complete game (seven innings) shutout of the season by allowing only three hits and one run (earned) with seven strikeouts, earning him his fifth win of the year. Walker Rumsey went 1-for-2 in the game with UCCS' only two RBI.

After a scoreless first inning, the Mountain Lions would strike first in the bottom of the second. Cody Norton and Riley Gregory got things started with a pair of singles. After John Mallon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Rumsey beat out a single that scored Norton and gave UCCS a 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, Jake Anderson singled to center field to get things rolling for UCCS. Anderson advanced to second on a ground out by Evan Richards and then advanced to third on a wild pitch to Norton. Later in the at-bat, Norton reached base on a throwing error by the CSM pitcher, which allowed Anderson to score from third and gave the Mountain Lions a 2-0 lead.

UCCS and CSM would each record scoreless fourth and fifth innings, and CSM finally got to Cicere in the sixth. The Orediggers ended Cicere's no-hit bid with two hits including a double down the left field line and a single to left center that scored the Orediggers' only run of the game.

UCCS answered in the bottom of the sixth as Norton and Gregory again got things going with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Mallon laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and bring Rumsey to the plate again, and he would deliver. Coach Dave Hajek is no stranger to being aggressive and he put it on display one more time as he called a suicide squeeze for Rumsey. Give Rumsey a lot of credit as he put a very tough inside pitch in play to score Norton, giving UCCS a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh.

CSM gave UCCS a scare with a leadoff single, but Cicere remained composed as he got the next batter to ground out to second. He would finish the game with back-to-back strikeouts and lift UCCS to their first win of the series.

The Mountain Lions were able to grind out the win behind Cicere as they tallied nine hits to CSM's three in the game.

Game two of the double header played similar to game one, only it was CSM who took an early lead over UCCS. Christian Manmano got the start again for UCCS and pitched well in a no-decision effort. Manmano gave up two runs (one earned) on eight hits and struck out two in just under five innings of work.

Similar to game one, both teams failed to score in the first inning. CSM broke the tie with a leadoff walk followed by a double and a sacrifice fly, making the score 1-0 with a runner on third. That runner scored a few pitches later on a passed ball, giving the Orediggers a 2-0 lead.

The Mountain Lions bounced back in the third as Matthew Clarke singled through the left side to get things started. Matt Berg followed that up with a single to center field that was bobbled by the CSM center fielder, allowing Clarke and Berg to advance to third and second respectively. That brought Anderson to the plate and he did his job, hitting a ball deep into left center for a sacrifice fly that scored Clarke and cut the lead to 2-1.

After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, UCCS would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a leadoff home run from Matt McDermott.

Unfortunately for the Mountain Lions, CSM would take a one run lead in the top of the seventh off of a solo home run, giving the Orediggers a 3-2 lead going into the last half inning.

The Mountain Lions were unable to conjure any late game heroics in the seventh as CSM took the game by a final score of 3-2.

Unlike Friday's game, both games on Saturday were dominated by pitching and defense. Since each team was able to earn a win, UCCS will look to take the final game of the series tomorrow and split the overall series with yet another ranked opponent.

First pitch for tomorrow's game is scheduled for 12 p.m. Following the game, there will be a Senior Day celebration for the five seniors on the UCCS roster: Colin Cicere, Cody Norton, Eric Neeley, Joe Slocum and Cam Aufderheide.