LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team splits Thursday's double-header with New Mexico Highlands University after setting a new program record with eight home runs in game two.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Game 1: UCCS 18, NMHU 20 | Game 2: UCCS 21, NMHU 6
Records: UCCS (5-1, 1-1 RMAC), NMHU (5-5, 3-3 RMAC)
Location: Brandt Baseball Field | Las Vegas, N.M.
All-Time Series: UCCS leads the all-time series with a 14-4 record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE:
• NMHU wasted no time as they got after UCCS starting pitcher Brian Marquez right out of the gate by stringing together four hits and four runs before getting Marquez got pulled with only one out in the bottom of the first inning.
• UCCS head Coach Dave Hajek made an early call to the bullpen as Creede Jeffers came into close out the first inning, not before the Cowboys recorded another two hits and five runs for an early 9-0 lead through the bottom half of the first.
• After a scoreless second inning, it was the Mountain Lions' turn to break the scoreboard as Ryan Schmidt and Kiichi Sato started off the third inning with a pair of hits to put runners on first and second.
• Starting left fielder Evan Richards then stepped in to rip a triple down the right field line to drive in two runs. The inning was no where close to being over as four consecutive singles led to another RBI and run scored with Aaron Faragallah recording the RBI off an infield single leaving bases loaded for designated hitter Riley Gregory. With one swing of the bat Gregory sends a grand slam over the left field fence to register an eight run third inning as the Mountain Lions close the gap to a 9-8 NMHU lead.
•  Down one run, UCCS' Jeffers retired the Cowboys 1-2-3 in the bottom of the third inning to keep the momentum for the Mountain Lions.
•  A Luis Samarano single started off the top fourth as NMHU miscues led to the first Mountain Lion lead. Matt McDermott and Jake Anderson each reached base via fielding errors to load the bases as Faragallah came to the plate to score Samarano and McDermott off an error by the third baseman, swinging the score to 10-9 in favor of UCCS.
• The Mountain Lion lead would not last too long with Cowboys' bats coming back alive as a solo shot by Charles Morgan tied the game at 10's in the home half of the fourth.
•  The inning continued for NMHU as a double and single followed with Jeffers forcing two consecutive fly outs, one of which being a sacrifice fly giving the Cowboys and 11-10 lead. Jeffers would not be able to get out of the inning as another double and single brought in two more runs for the Cowboys as Jeffers' day ended and UCCS reliever JJ Rytz's day began. Rytz would allow three straight singles and a Jeffers run scored before registering a strikeout to end the five-run fourth inning, leaving the score 14-10 NMHU.
•  The Cowboys would retire the side in the top of the fifth and move to the bottom half of the inning where two UCCS errors put NMHU base runners on second and third as a single through the right side scored another run to increase the Cowboy lead, 15-10.
•  Both teams ran through the sixth inning with no runs to start the top of the seventh inning with UCCS' Faragallah finding the gap in right field for a leadoff triple. With a runner on third junior Jaeden Hegmann would lift his first home run of the season to tack on two runs. Gregory then came to reach base by way of hit by pitch after the two-run homer as he crossed the plate later in the inning by a Richards' single to left that cut into the NMHU lead 15-13.
•  The bottom of the seventh would see a new face on the mound for the Mountain Lions with Matt Geoffrion entering the game. The transfer redshirt senior struck out the first batter of the inning but couldn't escape with no runs across as two consecutive doubles and single scored two for the Cowboys, increasing their lead 17-13.
•  Another scoreless top half of the inning left the door open for the Cowboys as they tacked on another three runs off four hits in the bottom of the eighth to leave the Mountain Lions in a seven-run hole going into the top of the ninth inning.
•  Down seven in the ninth, UCCS did not back down as Ryan Schmidt started the inning with a single followed by a two-run Kiichi Sato home run to register two quick runs. Samarano laced another single up the middle to keep the hope alive as NMHU went to Gaylan Young out of the bullpen for a pitching change. NMHU's Young recorded two quick outs before Henry Ryan drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs.
•  Now down by five, the Mountain Lions looked upon Faragallah to keep the inning going as he delivered with a three-run moon shot to cut the Cowboys lead to just two, 20-18.
•  Hegmann then sent a single back up the middle to keep the rally going for UCCS. But the rally would stop there as a strikeout closed out the game at a final score of 20-18.
 
STATS FROM GAME ONE
• NMHU outhit UCCS 23-19.
• Every Mountain Lion who recorded an at-bat recorded a hit and scored in the game.
• Five different Mountain Lions recorded multiple RBIs with Aaron Faragallah and Riley Gregory each recording a team high four RBI.
• Faragallah and Jaeden Hegmann each finish 3-for-6 as Faragallah records a triple and home run.
• Kiichi Sato finishes 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO:
• With the bats still hot from game one, the Mountain Lions would explode offensively starting with four runs in the top of the first inning.
•  Luis Samarano led off the game with a single as he quickly put himself in scoring position by stealing second before Evan Richards reached base by drawing a walk to put runners on first and second. Graduate student Matt McDermott sacrificed himself with a bunt that shifted base runners to second and third which helped give UCCS their first run of the game after Jake Anderson sent a sacrifice fly to left field. An Aaron Faragallah walk set up Jaeden Hegmann who sent a three-run home run deep into left center field for what would be the first of many home runs for the Mountain Lions as they captured the early 4-0 lead.
•  UCCS was not the only ones carrying over hot bats as the Cowboys answered back with three runs of their own off starter Jon Sotto who was able to escape the bottom of the first inning by way of strikeout.
•  The top of the second saw another UCCS score as Kiichi Sato went big fly to right center field for what would be his first of two home runs in the game to extend the UCCS lead 5-3.              
•  After a rocky first inning, Sotto settled in nicely by holding the Cowboys scoreless in the second and third inning, only giving up two hits to NMHU.
•  In the top of the fourth, fireworks flew as the Mountain Lions went on an offensive onslaught of 10 runs off nine hits in the inning.
• Starting catcher Michael Bennin got the inning going with a hard-hit single to right field to put the leadoff batter on for UCCS. Sato would then make his second home run appearance with a two-run shot that was only just the beginning for the Mountain Lions.
• The next four batters for UCCS did the unthinkable as Richards, McDermott, Anderson, and Faragallah went back-to-back-to-back-to-back solo home runs to add another four runs in the inning. The top of the fourth didn't top there as Alex Bates reach by hit by pitch and Bennin registering his second single of the inning to put runners on first and third. After a wild pitch scored Bates and put Bennin on second, Sato made his way to first with a hit by pitch to bring up Samarano who roped a double down the right field line to score Bennin and place runners on second and third. Richards then recorded his second hit of the inning with a two-RBI single for the ninth and tenth runs scored, extending the UCCS lead to 15-3.
• In the bottom half of the fourth NMHU put up two runs of their own off three hits as two singles ended Sotto's day and freshman Garrett Shriver made his collegiate appearance for the Mountain Lions. NMHU's Kalen Hammer singled off Shriver to bring Sotto's two runs across as Shriver recorded the next two outs by groundout and strikeout to get out of the inning with a score of 15-5.
• UCCS continued to add to their lead in the next three innings as they scored a combined six runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
• Both Sato and Dylan Morace came away with RBI in the fifth inning as hit by pitches and walks dug the Cowboys into a bigger hole, 17-5.
• Three additional runs came UCCS' way as doubles by Faragallah, Bates, and Bennin increased the UCCS lead 20-5 in the top of the sixth.
• The Mountain Lions then came back in the top of the seventh to claim their eighth home run on the day as Richards sent a solo home run to right field for his second of the game.
• UCCS' Shriver finished his day with one and two thirds innings pitched as Braden Barker entered the game in the sixth to pitch two complete innings and striking out the side to end the game.
 
STATS FROM GAME TWO
• UCCS outhit NMHU 19-9 in the game as the Mountain Lions recorded 12 extra base hits with four doubles and eight home runs.
• Michael Bennin and Luis Samarano each go 3-for-4 in the ballgame with an RBI
•  Kiichi Sato and Evan Richards both record two home runs and four RBI.
• Jaeden Hegmann also adds four RBI after going 1-for-4 with a home run.
• Jon Sotto records his first win of the season after pitching three and one thirds innings, giving up five earned runs, and registering three strikeouts.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Mountain Lions set a new program record with eight home runs in one game.
• UCCS' five home runs in the fourth inning of game two is the first time since 2017 that a Division II team has recorded five home runs in one inning (6 Tuskegee vs. Kentucky St. (2nd) (7 inn.) March 24, 2017).

UP NEXT:
The Mountain Lions will return back in action on Friday, Mar. 12 with a double-header against NMHU at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The first game will consist of nine innings followed by seven-innings for game two.
 
SOCIAL:
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.