LAS, VEGAS N.M. – Large innings down the stretch earn the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team the comeback win, and series sweep over the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys.
INSIDE THE MATCH UP
- Final: UCCS 14, NMHU 8
- Records: UCCS (13-23, 10-10 RMAC) | NMHU (7-31, 3-17 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Brandt Baseball Field | Las Vegas, N.M.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions improve to 29-7 against the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys all-time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions found themselves in an early hole in the final day of the series, giving up three runs on three hits in the first after they went quietly in the top half of the frame. A hit by pitch to Gael Bernal was followed by a Carlos Chavez double, which was then capped with a three-run launch from Tucker Simpson.
- Both teams earned a run in the third, with UCCS gaining doubles from Dillon Vroman and Alec Gomez to bring in the first tally of the visitor's day. In the bottom half of the third, it was Tucker Simpson once again lifting off for his second yard ball of the game, restoring the three-run advantage for the Cowboys.
- The fourth inning was the same story, with UCCS getting a run on Aaron Jenkins' lead off solo home run, with the Cowboys manufacturing a run off of two singles, a ground out and a sacrifice fly.
- The fifth inning was all UCCS, with the Mountain Lions grabbing six runs off five hits to catapult themselves in front by an 8-5 advantage after they entered the frame down 5-2. Hits from Hayden Iverson, Kit Wigington, Evan Steinberger, Aaron Jenkins, Vander Hodges, and Dillon Vroman powered the push for UCCS, as they returned to the field with the lead for the first time. UCCS carried their offensive momentum to defensive dominance in the fifth, setting the Cowboys down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
- The Mountain Lions got the lone run of the sixth inning as Alec Gomez blasted his second homer of the game, giving UCCS the four-run advantage after five and a half.
- The seventh and eighth innings came and went quietly, but UCCS had another big showing in the ninth where they plated five more runs. Hayden Iverson's three RBI triple highlighted the push, as UCCS posted their second multi-run inning of the day.
- Chase Stewart would slash an RBI double for the Cowboys in the final half inning, then come around himself on a Gael Bernal groundout to bring the score to 14-7. Two batters later, Tucker Simpson singled in Benito Martinez who tripled, to chip away another run and bring the score to 14-8. After the early trouble, Ryder Mancuso who came in for UCCS in the ninth, tightened up and set down Nathan Corugedo swinging to polish off UCCS' first sweep of 2024.
GAME STATISTICS
- Hayden Iverson, Alec Gomez, Evan Steinberger and Dillon Vroman all had doubles on the afternoon.
- Six different Mountain Lions tallied RBIs, with Alec Gomez leading the charge with four.
- James Boeree makes his second consecutive quality appearance for UCCS, going 4.0 scoreless, relief innings giving up just one hit.
- James Boeree (1-0) picks up his first win in black and gold, as Dominick Castillo (1-7) suffers the loss for the Cowboys.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- This was UCCS' tenth double-digit scoring performance of the year, four of which came in this series.
- UCCS has had six innings this season in which they have scored five runs or more. This was the first game with multiple innings of 5+ runs in the same game.
- Hayden Iverson's ninth inning triple tied him for his season high of three triples.
- UCCS earns their first sweep of the season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will return home to Mountain Lion Park for an eight-game home stand on Friday, as they get set for a four game series versus RMAC leading Colorado Mesa University.
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 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
