ALAMOSA, Colo. – A ninth inning comeback propelled the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team to an 8-7 win at Adams State University Friday afternoon.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final Score: UCCS 8, Adams State 7
Records: UCCS (17-26, 9-16 RMAC) | ASU (12-30, 7-18 RMAC)
Facility | Location: ASU Baseball Field | Alamosa, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions lead the Grizzlies 16-5 in the all-time series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Friday's series opener quickly found the Mountain Lions in a four-run deficit after one inning of work, but UCCS started to chip away at ASU's lead in the third inning. Hayden Iverson led off the top half of the third frame with a double to left field before tapping third base on a wild pitch. The next batter, Evan Steinberger, drove in Iverson on a single to right field. With the bases loaded and no outs, Kasey Campbell scored Steinberger on a fielder's choice.
- UCCS retired the side in the home half of the third inning before plating one run in the fourth inning. Madison went to the plate with one out and bases loaded and brought in the third run of the game with another RBI fielder's choice that scored Ronan Hella.
- Within one run of the Grizzlies entering the fifth inning, 4-3, the Mountain Lions went down one-two-three while the home team added three more runs to their lead to grab a 7-3 lead after five innings.
- Facing a four-hole shortfall again, the Mountain Lions continued to battle back and made their run in the sixth inning. Caleb Stubbings' lone hit of the game was an RBI single that scored Hella. An ASU pitching change ensued Stubbings hit, and the new pitcher was welcomed to the mound by Madison's second RBI of the game. With the bases loaded again and this time with two outs on the board, Bracy Lachemann laced a single to left field to plate Madison and Stubbings for the game-tying runs.
- Both teams started the final frame tied at 7-7, but a crucial error by the Grizzlies put the Mountain Lions ahead, 8-7. Hella led off the inning with a single but was picked off when he tried to steal second base. The next batter to the plate was Iverson who wore a pitch to reach first base. Shortly after bagging first base, he moved to third base on a wild pitch. With Iverson in scoring position, Steinberger reached first base on a fielding error by ASU's second baseman. Iverson took advantage of the error to score the go-ahead run and the eventual game-winning run.
- In the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and runners on first and second base, Vander Hodges went to the mound and forced a fly out on the first batter he faced to earn the save and close out the win for the Mountain Lions, 8-7.
GAME STATISTICS
- Cole Philip started on the mound for UCCS, pitching the first five innings and allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits.
- Jon Sotto pitched the next 3.2 innings in relief and was unstoppable to earn his second win of the season. Sotto struck out four batters and held the Grizzlies to just one hit and no runs.
- Three Mountain Lions claimed three hits each this afternoon – Iverson, Madison and Hella. Iverson and Hella each scored twice while Madison drove in two runs and plated one himself.
- Steinberger finished the game going 2-for-6 with two RBI and two runs.
- UCCS out-hit the Grizzlies, 16-11. Only one of the Mountain Lions 16 hits went for extra-bases (Iverson's double).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Hodges has three saves this season and is tied for seventh all-time for career saves (three).
- The Mountain Lions have won three straight games against the Grizzlies, and 10 of the last 11 games.
UP NEXT
- UCCS and Adams State will square off in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, beginning at 12 p.m.
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions
