COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The UCCS baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader against the Cowboys of New Mexico Highlands University. The Mountain Lions would score 16 runs over three innings in game two, giving them momentum into Sunday's series finale.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score Game One: UCCS 5, NMHU 10 | Final Score Game Two: UCCS 17, NMHU 3
Records: UCCS (14-22, 6-12 RMAC) | NMHU (3-33, 2-16 RMAC)
Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Park| Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions hold a 23-7 all-time lead over NMHU.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Mountain Lions gave the nod to Cole Philip for game one of Saturday's doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands University. Philip quickly settled into the game, as he picked off the Cowboys first runner of the day, getting out of the first inning with no damage on the scoreboard.
- With two outs in the bottom half of the first inning, UCCS saw two singles from Kit Wigington and Caleb Stubbings. Up stepped Brad Madison, who roped a single of his own up the middle to give the Mountain Lions an early 1-0 advantage. In the bottom of third inning, UCCS would plate two more runners via a throwing error, growing the lead to 3-0.
- While Philip was cruising through the first three innings, giving up no runs on only three hits, he ran into trouble to start the fourth. Following a leadoff walk and a wild pitch, the Cowboys went on their own two-out rally. Three straight hits from the bottom of the lineup brought across three runs, knotting the game at three runs a piece. In the top of the sixth inning, the Cowboys would pour it on, scoring six runs with two outs in the inning. Two straight walks with the bases loaded followed by a bases clearing double gave the Cowboys their biggest lead of the game, 9-3.
- In the bottom of the seventh inning, Wigington led off the inning with his fourth double of the season. After Madison reached after being hit by a pitch, catcher Tyler Richardson crushed a double over the right fielder's head, scoring two runs to bring the score to 9-5. The Cowboys would score one run in the eighth inning, ending the first game with a final score of 10-5.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME ONE
- Wigington, Madison, Richardson, and Ronan Hella each recorded two hits in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. Those four also each recorded one double.
- Richardson led the Mountain Lions with two RBI.
- In relief, Garrett Shriver was the most effective pitcher. The junior went three and one-third innings, striking out two and allowing only one earned run.
- The Cowboys' pitcher of record was Jadrian Martinez, who went five innings, allowing seven hits and one earned run.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Mountain Lions once again took a first inning lead. Hayden Iverson jumped on the first pitch he saw, crushing a double down the left field line. A sacrifice bunt from Mason Pastorello got Iverson into scoring position, and a ground out from Wigington would bring across the first UCCS run of game two.
- Evan Reynolds drew the start in the second game of Saturday's double header and was dealing. The sophomore would pitch five straight scoreless frames, giving up only four hits in the span.
- With the score still sitting at 1-0, the Mountain Lion bats finally woke up in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aaron Brakel found himself up with the bases loaded and no outs. The freshman centerfielder rocketed a bases-clearing double down the left field line to break the game wide open. Two more runs would come across in the inning, as UCCS grew their lead to 6-0.
- The Mountain Lions carried their hot bats over to the fifth inning. Madison started the frame off with another double and was brought into score thanks to a two-run homerun from Evan Steinberger. With two runners on, Iverson hit his second double of the game, growing the UCCS lead to 10-0. After Pastorello drew a walk, Wigington launched a no-doubt homerun over the right field wall, capping off a seven run, fifth inning for the home squad.
- UCCS would continue to pour it on, as they would score four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brakel's second double of the game would score one run, as Wigington's third hit of the game would bring home two more runs. Joe McDermott would pitch the last inning and a third, shutting the door on a 17-3 win in seven innings.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME TWO
- Wigington led the offensive charge in game two, as the sophomore recorded three hits and drove in seven runs.
- Brakel was a force at the plate, tallying three runs, two hits and driving in four runs of his own.
- Steinberger's fourth inning blast was his third of the season, as Wigington's homerun was his seventh.
- Reynolds recorded the win in game two, striking out three batters and giving up only three earned runs in five plus innings of work.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Wigington tied a career high with seven RBI in game two of the doubleheader.
- Madison has now recorded a double in three straight games, as he leads the team with 21 doubles on the season.
- UCCS' 17 runs are the most they've scored in a seven-inning game this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
