LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team rallies in game two to sweep Colorado Christian three games to none on the weekend.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
- Final Game One: UCCS 13, CCU 3 | Final Game Two: UCCS 8, CCU 4
- Records: UCCS (10-4, 0-0 RMAC) | CCU (2-14, 0-0)
- Facility | Location: All Star Park | Lakewood, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions all-time record vs the Cougars improves to 29-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE
- UCCS wasted no time getting started Saturday morning as Mikey Brinton singled in the leadoff at bat of the contest, with Bryce Peterson following with a single of his own to advance Brinton to third. Kit Wigington would come up and ground out to second, but Brinton would come across as UCCS took the 1-0 lead early. Two batters later, Trevor Dale came through with an RBI single to plate Peterson, as UCCS made their way out on defense with a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
- One inning later, UCCS was back on the attack with Dillion Vroman doubling to the gap in left center field and moving up on a passed ball to third base during the ensuing at-bat. With Vroman ninety feet away, Mikey Brinton put it in play on a groundout to second, scoring Vroman unearned and pushing the lead to 3-0 for UCCS.
- The Cougars would break through with their first run in the bottom of the second, with Aidan Welsh working a one out walk, then scoring two batters later on a Connor Laeng RBI single with two outs. The run was the only damage in the inning as the contest moved to the third with UCCS leading 3-1.
- The top of the third was good for the Mountain Lions for the second consecutive game, as the UCCS offense arrived with a vengeance. Kit Wigington kickstarted the effort with a leadoff solo home run, a trot that marked his fourth of the season. Following a Hayden Iverson single and a groundout from Dale, Evan Steinberger walked to put runners on first and second for Colton Trudeau with one out. Trudeau kept the line moving with a single to left center field to score Iverson, bringing up Nolan Ackerman who blasted a three-run shot to left, giving the Mountain Lions the seven run lead. The next three UCCS hitters all reached following the homer, with Bryce Peterson caping off that stretch with an RBI double to score Vroman from second base, with Kit Wigington plating Mikey Brinton with a sacrifice fly in the ensuing at-bat. Hayden Iverson would strike out to end the inning, but the effort gave UCCS a 10-1 lead behind 7 runs on six hits in the half-inning.
- CCU added a run in the bottom half of the third after Gavin Acosta Doubled then came around on a groundout two batters later, though CCU still had work to do down 10-2 after three.
- Scoring took a hiatus until the bottom of the sixth, with Gregory Rangel's double pairing with Sawyer Shepherd's single to bring the score to 10-3, but again, the Cougars could only scratch out a single run to bring the score to 10-3.
- UCCS responded in the seventh with four more hits which produced another three runs, then allowed just one baserunner in the bottom half of the frame, securing the 13-3 win in game one.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME ONE
- Dillon Vroman finished game one 4-4 with three runs scored, as three of his four knocks were doubles.
- Wigington, Bryce Peterson, and Nolan Ackerman all tied for the team lead with three RBIs, Ackerman doing so in one swing with his third inning home run.
- James Harbison (1-0) grabs the victory in his first decision of the season, as Brady Ritzmann (0-3) continues his search for his first win.
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO
- It was the Cougars that broke the ice in game two, as Mason Hagel-Pitt's two out single with two outs in the first plated Gavin Acosta to give CCU the 1-0 lead after the first trips to the plate for both teams.
- UCCS couldn't get anything going offensively until Dillon Vroman slashed his third long ball of the season with two outs in the third inning, tying the game at one.
- A three-run fifth inning for the Cougars grabbed the lead back for the hosts, with Colorado Christian earning two walks, a bunt single, and a traditional base hit to generate the scoring. Seven batters, two hits, and three runs later, UCCS returned to the plate facing a 4-1 deficit to start the sixth inning.
- The Mountain Lions didn't let the Cougars lead last, as they got right to work to begin the sixth inning. Again, it was Kit Wigington getting the inning started with a single through the right side, then advanced to second when Hayden Iverson followed with a single of his own to left. Trevor Dale made it three straight base knocks, scoring Wigington from second base, and advancing Iverson into scoring position. Caleb Chance moved both runners 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt, bringing up Evan Steinberger in a pinch hit nod. Steinberger would strike out, but not before a passed ball scored Iverson, and advanced Dale to third. Tyler Buchman followed with a single to plate Dale, with Dillon Vroman singling to center to move Buchman to third. With runners on the corners and Mikey Brinton at the plate, Vroman took off to swipe second, putting two runners in scoring position for the Mountain Lions leadoff man. Brinton answered the call with a single to clear the bases and gave UCCS their first lead of game three at 6-4.
- The Mountain Lions put the finishing touches on the afternoon in the top of the seventh inning, as Caleb Chance plated Iverson on a sacrifice fly, with Steinberger throwing out an RBI single to double up CCU at 8-4 and give UCCS their third straight victory.
GAME STATISTICS | GAME TWO
- Mikey Brinton batted in two runs for UCCS in the leadoff spot, the most in the game for the Mountain Lions.
- Trevor Dale (2B), Tyler Buchman (2B), and Dillon Vroman (HR) all recorded extra base hits in game two. With Caleb Chance adding two sacrifices in his return to the lineup.
- Joshua Zotto (3-0) continues his winning ways for the Mountain Lions, as Saxton Sorenson (0-2) takes the loss after five and two-thirds innings on the mound.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Mikey Brinton improves his weekend RBI total to nine after collecting three more drive-ins during Saturday's action.
- Dillon Vroman has a home run in two of his last three appearances, with all three of his long balls coming in the last six appearances for the senior outfielder.
- UCCS sweeps CCU in non-conference play, as they return to action against the Cougars in six days at home for the first series of RMAC action.
UP NEXT
- UCCS wraps up the weekend tomorrow with a neutral-site bout with Regis University in Lakewood. The first pitch is set for 11 a.m. tomorrow 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.
