COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team split Sunday's double-header versus No. 11 Colorado Mesa University. Game one saw the Mountain Lions drop a close 8-5 contest but would prevail in game two due to timely hits and rock-solid pitching winning 8-7.
INSIDE THE MATCH UP
- Final Score: Game 1: UCCS 5, CMU 8 | Game 2: UCCS 8, CMU 7
- Records: UCCS (14-26, 11-13 RMAC) | CMU (29-13, 19-5 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Mountain Lions Park| Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS and CMU have 9-26 all-time record with the Mavericks holding the advantage.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- The Mavericks jumped out on top in the first inning scoring two runs on four hits and after a quiet bottom of the first for UCCS, CMU added two more in the second to go up 4-0.
- The Mountain Lions got their offense going after Caleb Stubbings reached first on an infield single which was followed by a two-run opposite field bomb from Tyler Richardson. Aaron Jenkins followed that with a triple down the right field line and was driven in by Colton Trudeau on a groundout to third base.
- Dillion Vroman and Hayden Iverson trailed this with a pair of singles and Vroman would score after Mason Pasterello doubled down the right field line to even things up at four.
- The CMU offense stayed hot in the third as they added on three more runs to reclaim a 7-4 lead. After a silent bottom of the third for the UCCS offense, starter Jason Fink settled in for the top of the fourth, striking out three Mavericks and allowing no runs.
- Freshman pitcher Joshua Zotto came in for relief in the fifth inning and set CMU down in order. UCCS was able to scratch one run across in the bottom of the fifth as Stubbings grounded out to score Iverson from third making it 7-5 CMU.
- Zotto worked another scoreless inning on the bump in the sixth which led to UCCS threatening with runners on first and second with no outs. CMU changed pitchers, bringing in Ethan Voss who worked out of the inning without allowing a Mountain Lion to cross the plate.
- Zotto and Evan Reynolds worked through the seventh unscathed and the Mountain Lions threatened with two runners on again. Voss worked himself out of trouble for a second straight inning, leaving more runners on base for UCCS.
- Garrett Shriver entered in relief for Reynolds and kept the Mavericks in check leaving the score at 7-5. After going down in order in the bottom of the eighth, UCCS committed two errors that resulted in another run for CMU putting them up three (8-5) with three outs left in the game.
- The Mountain Lions last chance would fall short as Voss completed the save resulting in an 8-5 loss for UCCS.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME ONE
- Leading the way for the Mountain Lions in their 12 hits was Pastorello who was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. Both Stubbings and Richardson went 2-for-4 combining for three runs driven in and two runs scored, and Iverson added two hits in five tries as well.
- Both teams left runs on the table in game one as CMU left 11 runners on base while UCCS left seven stranded.
- Fink went for four complete innings in his outing today, allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs, three hit by pitches, and one walk to go along with six strikeouts. Fink falls to 1-5 on the season.
- CMU starter Caleb Ruter improves to 2-0 on the season allowed five earned runs on 10 hits in five innings pitched to go along with three strikeouts.
- After a strong relief performance yesterday for UCCS, Zotto, Reynolds, and Shriver followed it up impressively, combining for four strikeouts and one unearned run in five innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Joe McDermott set the tone for UCCS in game two starting the game with allowing just one hit in the first two innings and keeping Maverick's hitters honest by striking out two.
- The Mountain Lions offense didn't have much going for them in the first inning except base hits from Hayden Iverson and Kit Wigington. The bottom of the second however saw Vander Hodges reach on an infield single, Colton Trudeau getting to first with a walk and Iverson bringing in Hodges on a base hit to left. Mason Pastorello drove in Trudeau with a single of his own which was followed by Wigington who scored Iverson on an infield single to give UCCS a 3-0 lead.
- McDermott got himself into trouble in the third, starting the inning with a walk, followed by two singles, and a hit by pitch. CMU tallied two in the inning, but McDermott got out of the trouble by forcing a 6-4-3 double play to stay up 3-2.
- With runners on second and third in the bottom of the third, Dillion Vroman smacked a double down the left field line to give UCCS a 5-2 lead. Iverson immediately followed this with a single up the middle to score Vroman and the Mountain Lions would enjoy a four-run cushion (6-2).
- CMU didn't let up and responded with two runs, but McDermott and the Mountain Lions escaped after Iverson made a spectacular diving catch in shallow center field.
- Caleb Stubbings gave UCCS more separation with a solo home run over the left field fence to push the Mountain Lions up three (7-4) going into the fifth inning. James Boeree came in for relief in the fifth and the Mavericks were able to get a run across (7-5).
- CMU kept the UCCS offense at bay in the bottom of the fifth and would tack on another run in the sixth. Boeree collected a huge strikeout with a runner on second to end the inning, giving the Mountain Lions a chance to increase their 7-6 lead.
- UCCS' offense added support as Kit Wigington led off with an opposite field double which Stubbings followed with a single to drive in a run helping the Mountain Lions to hold a two-run lead (8-6) going into the final frame.
- Garrett Shriver entered for his second appearance of the day in an effort to close this one out and that's what he did as the Mountain Lions collected a 8-7 victory.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME TWO
- Wigington and Iverson headlined the offensive effort in game two, both going 3-for-4. Iverson contributed two RBIs, a run scored, and some great defense while Wigington drove in a single run.
- Stubbings added two hits in four tries with two RBIs and a run scored. Stubbings fourth inning home run was his seventh bomb on the year.
- Vander Hodges had a nice day at the plate adding two hits in four tries as well as Vroman who drove in two runs on his big third inning double.
- McDermott's four innings pitched included five hits allowed, four earned runs, and three walks to go along with two K's. The sophomore pitcher improves to 2-0 on the season.
- A common theme in this series was fantastic outings from relief pitchers, which was the case again in game two. Boeree and Shriver combined for three innings pitched allowing just two earned runs on four hits. The two combined for three strikeouts and walked none.
- Shriver's seventh inning save was his third on the season.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Mason Pastorello's stolen base in game one gives him 20 in his UCCS career, tying him for fifth all-time in program history with Kiichi Sato.
- Kit Wigington three hits today give him the fourth most hits in program history passing Jake Anderson (164). Wigington has collected 166 hits in his three seasons with the Mountain Lions.
- Hayden Iverson's game one double was his 25th of his career, tying him for ninth all-time in program history with Kiichi Sato. Iverson leads the team in hits by 16 total hits as he now has 64 on the season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions have a big series against Adams State University next weekend starting on Friday, April 26 at UCHealth Park in Colorado Springs, Colo.
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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.
