TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team split their double header as they defeat Wayne Stat 17-10 completing the six run comeback over the Wildcats. Hours later, they dropped their first game of the campaign as they are walked-off by UMary 7-6.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Game One: UCCS 17, WSC 10 | Final Game Two: UCCS 6, UMARY 7
- Records: UCCS (2-1, 0-0 RMAC) | WSC (0-2, 0-0 NSIC) | UMARY (1-1, 0-0 NSIC)
- Facility | Location: Rawlings Field |Pueblo, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions all-time record vs the Wildcats improves to 2-0, as their record vs UMARY drops to 0-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- UCCS again found themselves with an early deficit, as the Wildcats scored seven runs in the opening three innings. Their five run fifth was the majority of the damage which was highlighted by RBI doubles from Max Heard and Taylor Gill that combined for three RBIs.
- While things looked daunting for the Mountain Lions, they wasted no time getting back on the horse as they roared back with an eight spot of their own in the fourth inning. Three straight Mountain Lion baserunners reached to start the frame, with Caleb Stubbings being plunked to lead off, Bryce Peterson following with a walk of his own, allowing Trevor Dale to load the bases with his single up the middle. Nolan Ackerman dug in and roped a double down the left field line to bring Stubbings and Peterson across, pushing Dale to third on the play. Wayne State countered with a pitching change to bring on Carson Obrecht, but the move didn't pay dividends as Dillon Vroman welcomed him with a triple to deep center. Caleb Chance singled two batters later to bring home Vroman and moved to third on Kit Wigington's single through the right side. With runners on the corners for the second time in the inning, Hayden Iverson dotted the exclamation point with the second Mountain Lion triple of the inning, then scoring on a wild pitch on the following at bat to complete the eight-run effort.
- One inning later UCCS added three more runs on a base loaded bean of Kit Wigington to score Vroman, then Caleb Stubbings plated Chance and Mikey Brinton on a two-out single to push the lead to 12-7.
- UCCS would add three runs in the sixth and two runs in the ninth, as Benjamin Ruckman and Joshua Zotto clamped down in relief combining for only one allowed run as UCCS beats Wayne State 17-10.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME ONE
- Kit Wigington, Hayden Iverson and Dillon Vroman all slashed triples in game one of Saturday's action.
- Vroman and Iverson also led the team with three RBIs each, Taylor Gill and Braden Cannon matched the mark for the Wildcats
- Benjamin Ruckman (1-01) notched his first win as a Mountain Lion with Josua Zotto grabbing the save, as Braden Sweet (0-1) collects his first loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- The Marauders got the scoring started in the second frame as Issac Pegors scored on a fielder's choice to bring home Noah Hull who had reached on a lead off double.
- UCCS responded with a run in the away half of the fourth inning. Hayden Iverson reached on a leadoff single, then moved to third on Caleb Stubbings ensuing at bat when he doubled. Bryce Peterson did his job has he lifted a sac fly to left field, allowing Iverson to pull UCCS even at a run a side.
- UMary got back on top in the bottom half of the inning, again at the hand of Issac Pegors who launched the lone homer of the contest to return the lead 2-1 for the Marauders.
- The teams continued to trade blows, as UCCS got the run back in the top of the fifth. This time it was an old-fashioned manufactured run for the Mountain Lions with Vander Hodges leading off with a walk, then coming around on Caleb Chance's double two batters later.
- The drama picked up in the bottom of the seventh inning. University of Mary tacked on three runs after the stretch. The effort came to fruition from three hits and was aided along by three Mountain errors on defense. All three runs were unearned and UCCS.
- UCCS made up for their defensive lapses in the eighth inning when James Harbison and Vander Hodges with a single and walk, respectively. The leadoff baserunners tied the game as Wigington threw out a single then moved up to second on the throw to the plate.
- The score would hold into the ninth, but two hit by pitches and a single brought home the seventh run for the Marauders and secured the victory for UMary 7-6.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME TWO
- Vander Hodges scored two runs in the nightcap, to pair with his two walks.
- Wigington, Stubbings, and Harbison all enjoyed multi-hit performances.
- Sam Hayen (1-0) earned the win with Vander Hodges (0-1) taking the loss.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS enjoyed seven extra base hits across the double header, from seven different players.
- UCCS drops their first game of 2025 with the loss to UMary, as they remain winless vs the Marauders all time (0-5).
UP NEXT
- The four-game neutral site tournament will wrap up with a 10 a.m. meeting with Mary on Sunday morning.
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.
