COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team split the Sunday doubleheader with Adams State as they wrapped up the 2024 home schedule.
INSIDE THE MATCH UP
- Final Game One: UCCS 4, ASU 3 | Final Game Two: UCCS 3, ASU 10
- Records: UCCS (15-29, 12-16 RMAC) | ASU (21-24, 16-11 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Park | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions all-time record vs the Grizzlies moves to 19-9.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- It was an old fashion rubber match in the opening game on Sunday, with the pitching performances of Phil Carter and Jason Fink stealing the show. With solid pitching on both sides, scoring was hard to come by, but Adams State would be the first to strike paydirt.
- In the top of the second, Joseph Raker got things started with a leadoff single, before moving up on a groundout in the following at bat. This set up Jack Dere's RBI double which gave the visitors the early 1-0 advantage.
- Adams would add to their lead in the top of the third inning, earning a baserunner on a UCCS error, leading to Mike Bathauer's two run shot to push the lead to 3.
- The Mountain Lions earned their first run in the bottom half of that third inning, when Vander Hodges singled, then took advantage of a snoozing Adams defense to move up to second on the same play. After moving up to third on Liam Whalen's groundout, ASU's Phil Carter dropped the ball while engaged with the rubber on the mound, bringing in Hodges on the balk.
- Fast forward to the seventh, and again it was Vander Hodges doing damage, this time with his bat. After three straight singles from Caleb Stubbings, Evan Steinberger, and Aaron Jenkins, Hodges doubled in Stubbings and Steinberger to tie the contest at three runs a side. On the ensuing at bat, Colton Trudeau laid down a masterclass bunt, reaching first and scoring Aaron Jenkins, grabbing UCCS their first lead at 4-3.
- Despite Grizzly hits in both the 8th and 9th, UCCS would stand strong defensively the rest of the way, taking the 4-3 win in the opening game on Sunday.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- Both teams didn't waste any time getting their offenses started in the nightcap action with both teams producing RBI doubles in the first frame, leading to a 1-1 score after the first.
- In the third, Adams State broke the contest open, thanks to a Jack Dere grand slam, to bring the score to 6-1 and chase UCCS starter Joe McDermott.
- James Boeree came on in relief of McDermott and threw a very strong 3 and two thirds' innings, not allowing a run on only two hits.
- The Mountain Lions tacked on two more runs, one on a Colton Trudeau single in the fourth with the last coming on a Vander Hodges single in the sixth.
- In the final frame it was all Grizzlies once again, putting up four more runs to seal the win in game four and the series. Singles from Nolan Marthaler, Phil Carter, and Ayden Tauscher accounted for the four 7th inning RBIs, as Adams State earned the Sunday split by a 10-3 game two final.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME TWO
- Jack Dere's third inning grand slam earned him the game high 4 RBIs.
- Alec Gomez added two more hits in game two to make him the only Mountain Lion with two multi-hit performances on Sunday.
- Tyler Richardson and Liam Whalen both smashed doubles, with Richardson also earning a single.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The two teams combined for six double plays on Sunday, with five coming in game one alone. The Grizzlies had three in game one with another in game two, as UCCS turned two in game one.
- Adams State's win on Sunday punched their ticket to the postseason tournament as they guaranteed a top six finish in the RMAC. This is their first trip to the RMAC Tournament since 2016.
UP NEXT
- UCCS baseball wraps up the 2024 regular season on Friday and Saturday as they travel to Golden, Colo. for two doubleheaders against Colorado School of Mines.
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.
