COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team claimed their first conference victory of the 2023 campaign, after splitting a pair of games against the Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves on a windy Saturday afternoon.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Game One: UCCS 5, CSUP 16 | Final Game Two: UCCS 12, CSUP 4
Records: UCCS (8-11, 1-2 RMAC) | CSUP (4-13, 2-1 RMAC)
Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Park | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions lead the all-time series over the ThunderWolves, 13-11.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- Ryder Mancuso got the starting nod for the third time this season. A pair of ThunderWolves doubles got the scoring started, as Colorado State University Pueblo took a two-run lead in the top of the first inning.
- CSUP's Christian Casteneda added to the early advantage, sending a three-run home run over the left field wall.
- In the bottom of the second, freshman Ronan Hella continued his hot streak at the plate, doubling down the left field line to score Vander Hodges. Following a pitching change that brought Joe McDermott into the game, CSUP's Reggie Williams responded by hitting the team's second three-run homerun in as many innings.
- Kasey Campbell instantly put the pressure back on, roping a double to the center field wall that brought two Mountain Lions in to score.
- CSUP continued to pour on the runs, adding four more runs in the top of the fourth to grow their lead to 15-3. UCCS bounced back in the bottom half of the inning, getting back-to-back doubles from Kit Wigington and Caleb Stubbings in order to cut the Pack's lead to 10.
- UCCS went back to their bullpen in the fifth inning, bringing in sophomore Will Gabriel who would stifle CSUP's offense. Gabriel threw three innings, allowing only three hits and giving up one run in relief.
- Tyler Curtis went the full seven innings for the ThunderWolves, firing three straight scoreless innings to end the game, allowing only three hits in that span. CSUP would add one run to their lead, taking game one of the doubleheader 16-5.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME ONE
- UCCS accounted for 12 hits, five of which were doubles from Wigington, Stubbings, Campbell, Hella and Brad Madison.
- Hella finished the game with three hits in as many appearances, accounting for one RBI and one run scored.
- Stubbings and Campbell added two RBI a piece, each with two hits for the game.
- Mancuso worked the first two innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on four hits, striking out three. In relief, McDermott pitched two innings, allowing nine runs on 11 hits.
- Gabriel pitched three innings of relief, striking out four while giving up one run on three hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions found themselves in a two run hole in the first inning, but responded with RBI singles from Madison and Tyler Richardson. Starting pitcher, John Hoffman, was efficient in the early going, allowing only four hits through the first four innings of action.
- UCCS found their offensive rhythm in the bottom of third, breaking the game open with four runs on six hits. Campbell crushed a one out triple into the right center gap, and swiftly made his way home following Richardson's second RBI single of the afternoon. The Mountain Lions found the gaps in CSUP's defense, recording three more RBI singles in a row to grow their lead to 6-3.
- Following a Madison single to start the bottom half of the fourth inning, Campbell built on his strong afternoon by hitting a towering opposite field homerun for his third long ball of the season. A pair of costly errors by the ThunderWolves right fielder allowed a pair of Mountain Lions to score, as they ballooned their lead to seven.
- After a walk of Cole Knightley loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the fifth inning, CSUP saw a golden opportunity to cut into the Mountain Lion lead. Hoffman rose to the challenge, striking out one batter and forcing a pop up to escape the jam, only giving up one run in the frame.
- UCCS would quickly get that run back as Stubbings blasted a homerun off of the scoreboard on the first pitch of the inning. Hayden Iverson would add another RBI off a single up the middle, that would ultimately get UCCS their first RMAC win, with a final score of 12-4.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME TWO
- Five different Mountain Lions recorded at least two hits. Campbell led the attack with three of his own, including a triple and a homerun, while adding two RBI and three runs scored. Richardson, Hella and Sehr all would account for two RBI on the afternoon.
- Stubbing's fifth inning blast was his third of the season.
- Hoffman was given the win, following six stellar innings on the mound, striking out five, while giving up seven hits and only three earned runs. Vander Hodges appeared in one inning of relief, putting the Pack down 1-2-3 with two strikeouts of his own.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Campbell went an impressive 5-for-8 on Saturday with two singles, one double, one triple and one home run. He added four RBI and three runs scored.
- Hella notched four hits in his six plate appearances, accounting for three RBI of his own.
- Stubbings and Campbell each hit their third homerun of the year, tying them with Wigington for most on the team.
- The Mountain Lions southpaw pitchers of Gabriel and Hoffman combined for nine innings pitched, giving up on four runs while striking out nine CSUP batters.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will take on CSU Pueblo in the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m.
