COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team makes it five in a row as they sweep New Mexico Highlands University in their Sunday afternoon double-header. UCCS rallied late to beat the Cowboys in game one by a score of 6-5, then scored a pair of late runs in game two to take home their second win of the day, 5-3. That brings the Mountain Lions' record to 7-6 overall heading into conference play next weekend.

UCCS recorded 17 total hits in the two games including three doubles and one home run, hit by Evan Richards. Jake Anderson led the team with five hits (5-for-8) and added one double and two RBI. John Mallon added a 3-for-8 day including a team high four RBI and the walk-off two RBI single to win the first game of the day.

Christian Manmano got the start in game one and threw well, going four complete innings and allowing only one run (earned) off one hit in a no-decision effort. Parker Gregory got his first win of the season in a relief effort after throwing a shutout ninth inning.

In game one, UCCS took an early 1-0 lead after Anderson drove in the game's first RBI. NMHU tied things up in the second off a home run. Then in the fifth, Anderson again drove in the go-ahead RBI off a single to left to give UCCS a 2-1 lead after five. NMHU answered immediately with a four-run sixth innings to take a 5-2 lead with three innings to go.

The Mountain Lions got one back in the seventh off an RBI single from Aaron Faragallah another in the eighth thanks to a home run from Richards, making the score 4-5 heading into the ninth. After NMHU walked the bases loaded with no outs, the Cowboys were able to get two quick outs to bring up Mallon for the game's last out. Mallon delivered in heroic fashion with a single to center that scored two and gave UCCS the walk-off win.

Jonathan Cowles got the start for game two and went five complete innings, allowing three runs (all earned) off three hits with eight strikeouts in his no-decision effort. Jon Sotto earned the win in relief, his second of the year, after throwing one shutout inning. Creede Jeffers got his third save of the year thanks to a shutout seventh inning.

NMHU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning, but UCCS would answer in the bottom of the third with three runs off a two RBI single from Mallon and another RBI driven in by Tyler Matheny off a fielder's choice, making the score 3-2. The Cowboys were able to tie things up in the fifth off a solo home run. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Michael Bennin striped a double down the right field line to score Matt Clarke and Anderson to give UCCS the lead, 5-3.
Jeffers would come in the top of the seventh to shut things down and give UCCS their seventh win of the season.

The Mountain Lions are back at home next weekend for the start of RMAC play as they get set to host Colorado Christian University in a four-game series at Mountain Lion Park. The first game is scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m., followed by a double-header on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Sunday, March 8 will feature the series finale at 12 p.m.