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Box Score 2 Denver, Colo.: (By Dylan Docker) The Rangers (5-8, 1-5 RMAC) opened a four-game home series with a doubleheader split against the Cougars (2-12, 1-5 RMAC) of Colorado Christian College on Friday.
Game One – Colorado Christian 1, Regis 15
Senior right-hander
Charlie Henderson took the ball for Regis in game one. He opposed Colorado Christian left-hander Travis Mosler.
With no score in the third inning, sophomore first baseman
Steven Brault put the home team on the board with a sacrifice fly.
Regis held a 1-0 lead until the Cougars tied the game in the fifth. Junior shortstop Cody Hastings led off the home half with a hit and later scored on a wild pitch from Mosler, putting the Rangers back in the lead.
The Rangers loaded the bases for Tony Piazza later in the inning. The sophomore third baseman laced a Mosler delivery down the left field line to clear the bases and open up a 5-1 lead for the home team.
Mosler walked the next hitter, forcing the Colorado Christian bench to make a move to the bullpen. Junior righty Kyle Yanke entered the game and plunked the first hitter he faced to again load the bases.
Junior center fielder Bob Terry brought home a run with a fielder's choice. Then, in his second at-bat of the inning, Hastings sent a line drive single into left field to score another pair for the Rangers.
Regis sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored seven runs in the fifth to bring an 8-1 lead into the middle innings.
Piazza collected another RBI double in the sixth. After allowing two runs in the inning Yanke was lifted for freshman right-hander Spencer Heath.
Regis collected another five runs off of Heath to open up a 15-1 lead. The consecutive seven-run innings would be more than enough for Henderson and the Regis defense.
The Rangers picked up their first RMAC win with 15 runs on 16 hits and one error. The Cougars scored one run on six hits and three errors in the loss.
Henderson (1-1) got the win for Regis after allowing one run and striking out two in a complete-game effort. Mosler (0-2) took the loss for Colorado Christian for his 4 1/3 innings pitched and seven runs (six earned) allowed.
Piazza went 2-for-4 and collected four RBI's for the Rangers, while Hastings went 3-for-5 with three RBI's of his own. Junior second baseman Nick Billinger reached in all four of his plate appearances, going 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
Game Two – Colorado Christian 3, Regis 2
The Rangers turned to senior southpaw Steve Falconi in game two. Junior right-hander Marshall Crawford took the mound for the Cougars.
Colorado Christian scored a run in the first inning and added another in the third to take an early lead. The Rangers countered in the bottom of the third with an RBI triple from Billinger. A fly ball off the bat of Brault was deep enough to bring Billinger home and tie the game at two.
The Cougars retook the lead with a sac-fly of their own in the top of the fourth inning. Falconi later started the fifth but was pulled after allowing a lead-off single.
Relievers Alec Mielnicki and Hunter Aronson combined to keep the Cougars from scoring again, but the Rangers offense could not make up the difference.
The Cougars picked up the victory in the seven-inning nightcap with three runs on seven hits and one error. The Rangers fell with two runs on four hits and two errors.
Crawford (1-1) pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out three to pick up the win. Despite striking out six Cougar hitters, Falconi (1-2) took the loss for Regis after allowing three runs (two earned) in four innings pitched.
Billinger went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Hastings reached in both of his plate appearances with a base hit and a walk.
The Rangers and Cougars conclude their four-game series with another doubleheader tomorrow, March 10 at Regis. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11 a.m. Game two is scheduled for approximately 2:00 p.m.
