COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Redshirt senior
Jake Anderson lifts the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team past Colorado State University Pueblo 10-8 with a go-ahead two RBI double in the eighth inning as Anderson sets a new program single game record with seven RBI.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: UCCS 10, CSU Pueblo 8
Records: UCCS (28-10, 22-10 RMAC), CSU Pueblo (15-23, 12-20 RMAC)
Location: Suplizio Field | Grand Junction, Colo.
All-Time Series: UCCS is tied with CSU Pueblo 7-7 in the all-time series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The ThunderWolves struck first by plating two runs off a two-run home run to start the game as they posted the early 2-0 lead in the top half of the first.
• In what was a career day at the plate for cleanup hitter
Jake Anderson, the starting first baseman began his day with an infield single that brought across UCCS' first run and Anderson's first RBI of the day to make it a one-run ballgame after the first inning of play.
• The Mountain Lions proceeded to score two runs in the second and one in the third as UCCS found the long ball early on in the game. A
Walker Rumsey two-run home run gave UCCS their first lead as
Matt Berg sent a ball off the left center field wall. From there, Berg showed off his speed to register an inside the park home run to extend the UCCS lead 4-2 through three innings.
• Down two runs, the ThunderWolves answered with three runs in the top of the fourth to record their second lead of the ballgame, 5-4.
• The new team leader in RBIs disrupted CSU Pueblo's lead once again by driving in two runs with the help of a ThunderWolves' error as a hard hit ball to second base wasn't handled cleanly and gave UCCS the lead 6-4 in the home half of the fourth.
• CSU Pueblo fired back to regain the lead as a two-run home run in the fifth ended
Christian Manmano's day on the mound. The ThunderWolves then came out to hit a solo shot to start the sixth inning to grab the 8-6 advantage.
• With the Mountain Lions facing a two-run deficit, Anderson stepped in to become CSU Pueblo's kryptonite as the redshirt junior tallied his fourth and fifth RBI by knocking a two-run home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth to halt the ThunderWolves' lead for the third time in the game.
• Now a tied ballgame, 8-8, UCCS relief pitcher
Joseph Harris stepped on the mound to retire the side in the seventh and eighth inning with the help of the Mountain Lion defense. The ThunderWolves worked to runners on first and second with no outs in the eighth as UCCS came up with a key stop by getting the lead runner at third on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Harris then fanned the next batter to get the second out as RMAC Gold Glove shortstop
Matt McDermott fielded a groundball and flipped it over to
Nate Heflebower for the final out to head into the bottom of the eighth with the 8-8 tie.
• After a change in pitchers for CSU Pueblo,
Jaeden Hegmann led the inning off by drawing a walk to put the go-ahead runner on first. Head Coach
Dave Hajek then signaled for the hit and run as
Evan Richards caught the shortstop out of position with an infield single to put runners on first and second no outs for Anderson. Just as he did all game, Anderson delivered once again by roping a double down the left field line to score Hegmann and Richards and capture the 10-8 lead.
• Harris came in for his third inning of relief where he retired the ThunderWolves' lineup in order to finalize the 10-8 win.
STATS FROM THE GAME
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Joseph Harris claims his first win of the season by going 3.0 IP and giving up just one hit while striking out two.
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Christian Manmano threw 4.2 IP in the start where he allowed seven runs, five earned, off 10 hits with two strikeouts.
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Hayden Salverda threw 1.1 innings of relief as he struck out two and gave one run off two hits.
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Jake Anderson sets the program single game record and career high with seven RBI after finishing 3-for-5 with a double and home run.
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Walker Rumsey turns in a 1-for-3 day with two RBI after going yard with a two-run home run.
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Matt Berg goes 1-for-5 with a solo home run to finish with an RBI.
•
Jaeden Hegmann scored a game high three runs after drawing three walks in the game.
UP NEXT:
The Mountain Lions now turn to Friday, May 21 where they are set to face No. 1 nationally ranked Colorado Mesa University for a 12 p.m. game. The winner between UCCS and CMU will advance to the RMAC Championship game on Saturday, May 22 with the loser set to face the winner of MSU Denver and CSU Pueblo at 8 p.m. on Friday night.
SOCIAL:
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
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.
