PUEBLO, Colo. – It was a well-rounded win for UCCS Baseball on Tuesday as the Mountain Lions topped Colorado State University Pueblo 11-8 on eight extra base hits as eight different UCCS pitchers helped pursue and close out the win in Rawlings Field.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: UCCS 11, CSU Pueblo 8
Records: UCCS (3-6, 0-0 RMAC), CSU Pueblo (3-5, 0-0 RMAC)
Location: Rawlings Field | Pueblo, Colo.
Series: UCCS takes the lead in the all-time series against CSU Pueblo with the Mountain Lions now holding the advantage 8-7.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Tuesday's non-conference game went through a scoreless first inning before the Mountain Lions started the offensive fireworks with a three-run second inning. After a quick two outs in two at-bats, UCCS'
Kit Wigington roped the first hit of the game to right field for a double to setup
Luis Samorano for an RBI single that the redshirt junior sent to left field. An error by the third baseman brought across the next run as Samorano scored from first with
Tyler Richardson later cruising in off a
Mason Pastorello double down the left field line for the 3-0 UCCS lead.
• UCCS starter
Cole Philips ran through the ThunderWolves lineup three-up-three-down in the first but found himself in a rough patch in the bottom half of the second as CSU Pueblo worked bases loaded no outs. A four-ball walk came next and scored the first run for the ThunderWolves as Philips quickly followed up the walk by punching out the next three batters to bring his day to a close and maintain a 3-1 UCCS lead.
• In what was a pitching by committee night for the Mountain Lions,
Hunter Owens was the first pitcher out of the pen as the sophomore kept CSU Pueblo scoreless through two full innings as he notched three strikeouts in the process.
• CSU Pueblo also kept the Mountain Lions under wrap for three straight innings as the ThunderWolves managed to plate another run in the bottom of the fifth after Noah Hennings drew a walk and worked over to third off a stolen base and groundball to the right side to later come in and score off an infield single with two outs.
• Up 3-2 in the top of the sixth and in need of runs, UCCS recovered from their three-inning drought to score four runs as
Caleb Stubbings initiated the offensive spark with a solo shot to left field. Stubbings' first collegiate home run was one of six hits and one of four extra base hits in the inning as Richardson registered one RBI off a double to the left field gap with
Kiichi Sato driving in another two runs off a double to right field, bringing the score up to 7-2 in favor of UCCS.
• The sixth, seventh, and eighth innings all saw different UCCS arms as
Jonathan Cowles,
Brock Weiss, and
Christopher Bryant combined to give up just one hit to enter the last inning of play.
• In the ninth, the Mountain Lions went on to erupt for another four runs to give themselves a nine-run cushion. Sato registered his second RBI double of the game with redshirt freshman
Brad Madison following suit by burning the center fielder for an RBI double. Stubbings tacked onto his RBI count by recording his second of the day off a single as Wigington flew out to center field for a sacrifice fly and 11-2 lead.
• Down nine runs, CSU Pueblo attempted to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth as the ThunderWolves nearly doubled their hits to that point by recording seven hits while also capitalizing off two UCCS errors to score six runs. With a runner on first and reliever
Joseph Harris in the game, CSU Pueblo singled up the middle for runners on first and second as the tying run came up to the plate. But with one pitch Harris forced a groundball to Sato who put the game away for the 11-8 final.
STATS FROM THE DAY:
• Seven different Mountain Lions combined for 13 hits in the game with six of those hitters registering two hits and all seven Mountain Lions tallying one or more RBI.
• UCCS came to outhit the ThunderWolves 13-11 with eight of UCCS' hits going down as extra base hits, including seven doubles and one home run.
•Eight UCCS pitchers saw action in Tuesday's game with
Hunter Owens recording the win off two full innings of work, one hit allowed, and three strikeouts
. Joseph Harris records the save after coming in to claim one out.
• Kiichi Sato and
Kit Wigington each finished with two doubles on the day. Sato went 2-for-5 with two RBI as Wiginton finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Caleb Stubbings also went 2-for-5 after finishing with a home run and two RBI.
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Hunter Owens registers his first ever collegiate win with
Joseph Harris recording his second career save in the black and gold.
• The Mountain Lions tallied seven doubles for the seventh time in program history.
• Caleb Stubbings and
Kiichi Sato are tied for the team lead in RBI with seven.
UP NEXT:
• UCCS Baseball will take on CSU Pueblo for another non-conference showdown next week as the Mountain Lions are set to host the ThunderWolves for their home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
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.
