POMONA, Calif. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball opened their 2022 season in the win column on Friday night as the Mountain Lions' pitching limited California State Polytechnic University to six baserunners as UCCS went on to defeat the Broncos, 7-1.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: UCCS 7, Cal Poly Pomona 1
Records: UCCS (1-0, 0-0 RMAC), CPP (0-1, 0-0 CCAA)
Location: Scolinos Field | Pomona, Calif.
Series: UCCS extends their winning streak against Cal Poly Pomona to two games as the Mountain Lions hold a 9-7 all-time record over the Broncos.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• It took just one inning for the first run of the game to come across as Cal Poly Pomona took UCCS three up and three down to come out and plate one in the bottom of the first. CPP's Ryan Knowles doubled to right center to start the inning as a Tyler Chaffee single came to score Knowles to establish an early 1-0 lead.
• Though the Broncos took the lead early on, the Mountain Lions put a quick end to Cal Poly's lead in the top half of the second. With one out, UCCS' Brad Madison and Andrew Danko put starting pitcher Rhys Stevens to work by drawing back-to-back walks to setup the Mountain Lions' first scoring opportunity of the game. A strikeout followed by a pass ball put the scoring chance on the shoulders of Matt Johnson who came to deliver a two-out double to the right center gap for two RBI to give the Mountain Lions their first and only lead of the game, 2-1.
• Once handed the lead, starting pitcher Jonathan Cowles ran through the Broncos lineup by throwing the next four complete innings where he tallied three strikeouts and only allowed three baserunners after the one-run first inning.   
• After Cowles finished his night by retiring the side in the bottom of the fifth, true freshman Brock Weiss took the bump with a 2-1 lead in hand and followed suit by taking down Cal Poly Pomona 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth as he notched his first two strikeouts in the black and gold.
• The Mountain Lions also were held in check after the two-run second inning but as Weiss took the Broncos down once again in order, UCCS' offense piled onto the one-run lead by tacking on five insurance runs in the top of the eighth. The five-run inning was fueled by four hits with three of the hits finding extra bases as Jaeden Hegmann and Kiichi Sato registered a pair of RBI doubles. Aaron Faragallah then joined in on the action with an RBI single as Madison finished off his first game as a Mountain Lion with a two-run jack to right field, bringing the score to 7-1.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Weiss recorded the first two outs to pave the way for reliever Christopher Bryant who came in to log the final out of the inning by way of strikeout. He wasn't finished there as he came out in the ninth to add two more strikeouts as Hegmann put the game away with a groundball putout from shortstop to bring secure the 7-1 final.

STATS FROM THE DAY:
• UCCS and CPP matched each other in hits for the ballgame with five each as the Mountain Lions tallied four extra base hits.
• On the offensive side of the ball, redshirt freshman Brad Madison led the way with a 1-for-3 night that included a two-run home run, a walk, and two runs scored.
• Starting catcher Matt Johnson matched Madison's two RBI night by going 1-for-4 with a double. Jaeden Hegmann and Kiichi Sato also notched doubles in the win as they each recorded an RBI and finished 1-for-5 and 1-for-4, respectively.
• Aaron Faragallah wrapped up the night with a 1-for-4 game that included an RBI single and one run scored.
 • Cal Poly Pomona's pitching staff went off for 16 strikeouts on Friday night with starting pitcher Rhys Stevens being responsible for nine as he received the loss in 4.2 innings of work that allowed one hit, two runs, and four walks. UCCS starter Jonathan Cowles bags his first win of the 2022 season by allowing one run off four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
• UCCS' bullpen settled in nicely as both Brock Weiss and Christopher Bryant fanned three batters. Weiss did not allow a single hit in 2.2 innings pitched with Bryant only giving up one hit in 1.1 innings of work.

BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Mountain Lions allowed just six baserunners through nine innings of play on Friday night.
• This the second straight season the Mountain Lions have started off in the win column.

UP NEXT:
• UCCS Baseball continues their four-game series at Cal Poly Pomona tomorrow afternoon with a Saturday double-header at 1 and 3 p.m. (MT).
 
SOCIAL:
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Instagram - @gomountainlions 
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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.