COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –
Bryce Peterson's eighth inning home run captures game one for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team 7-6 over Colorado Christian.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
- Final: UCCS 7, CCU 6
- Records: UCCS (11-5, 1-0 RMAC) | CCU (3-15, 0-1)
- Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Park | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions get their 30th program win over Colorado Christian, leading the all-time series 30-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UCCS turned to junior right-hander Jason Fink to begin the series on the hill, and Fink looked very good through the first two innings of work. A wone out single from Greg Rangel in the first inning was the only Cougar to reach during the first six outs, as the Cougars went in order in the second inning.
- Offensively, UCCS couldn't get anything started either, as UCCS was able to reach three baserunners in the first two frames with a first inning single from Kit Wigington and a second inning Caleb Chance single which Trevor Dale followed with a walk. The Mountain Lions couldn't cash in, however, as the first two innings came and went without any scoring.
- The bats would come alive for the Cougars in the third, with the first two hitters for CCU reaching on back-to-back hits to begin the frame. Nathan Owens led off with a single up the middle, which was followed by Conner Laeng who doubled to the gap in right to put both baserunners in scoring position with no one out. Gavin Acosta brought home the icebreaker on a ground out to Trevor Dale at short, beginning a string of four straight hits from CCU that generated a five-run advantage. Fink would shake off the pressure after a mound visit from UCCS pitching coach Daniel Silva, as he came back to strike out Zachary Valentine and induce a ground ball from Major Maydon to end the frame. The damage was limited to five, as UCCS looked to respond in the bottom half of the third.
- As UCCS came to the plate, they did exactly that. Dillon Vroman got the effort started with a lead-off single to left, then came into score two batters later, on Bryce Peterson's double to right center. Kasey Campbell entered in the pinch for Kit Wigington, as he made the most of his opportunity and launched a two run dinger to right, pulling UCCS within two with still just one out in the inning. Hayden Iverson joined the fray with a walk, before Caleb Stubbings was plunked to put two on with one gone. Caleb Chance then added to the push with an RBI single to bring in Iverson from second, but Trevor Dale and Evan Steinberger would both be retired to end the Mountain Lions' threat. After the Mountain Lions entered the bottom of the third facing a 5-0 deficit, they returned to defense down just one at 5-4.
- Jason Fink showed no signs of determent after allowing five in the third, as he returned in the fourth to retire the side on a ground out, fly out and strike out.
- In the bottom of the fourth, UCCS would even the game at five, with Mikey Brinton reaching on a hit by pitch then moving to second on Bryce Peterson's single through the left side. Hayden Iverson would come through two batters later as he split the gap in right center for a two-out double, scoring Brinton and tying the game for UCCS.
- CCU answered right back in the visiting half of the fifth when Gavin Acosta was plunked to start the inning, with Greg Rangel also walking on the ensuing at-bat. Fink would get Mason Hagel-Pit on a sacrifice bunt play but Will Brassil grounded out to first with one down to score Acosta and restore the CCU lead to one. Fink mitigated further damage by retiring Major Maydon to end the inning, but UCCS once again found themselves behind.
- The Mountain Lions would earn the last laugh in the eighth after Mikey Brinton worked a one-out walk to set up Bryce Peterson for his fourth home run of the year, scoring the go-ahead pair for UCCS and bring the tally to 7-6 UCCS.
- Joe Plise entered to close the game for the Mountain Lions and the senior did his job, capturing his second save of the season and punctuating a 7-6 victory for UCCS to open conference play.
GAME STATISTICS
- Bryce Peterson, Kasey Campbell and Hayden Iverson all slashed extra-base hits on their afternoons. Peterson (4) and Campbell (1) both launched homers, as Peterson and Iverson each had a double.
- Seven Mountain Lions had hits on Saturday, with Peterson and Caleb Chance both earning multi-hit performances.
- James Harbison (2-0) earns the win in relief for UCCS, as Joe Plise picks up his second save of the season in the ninth. Jack Cazin (1-2) is pinned with the loss for the Cougars.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Kasey Campbell blasts his first home run of the season, as Bryce Peterson ties Kit Wigington for the team lead in big flies with his fourth.
- UCCS opens RMAC competition with a win for the first time since the 2022 season.
UP NEXT
- UCCS continues the series against CCU tomorrow with a doubleheader set to begin at 12 p.m.
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.
