Grand Junction, Colo.: The Regis bats got to New Mexico Highlands First Team All-RMAC pitcher Oscar Almeida early and behind the eight-inning gem from Steven Brault won their first game of the RMAC Tournament 11-4.

Winners of five in a row dating back to last year's RMAC Tournament, Regis scored two runs in the top of the first inning with four singles and RBIs by Jon Shoutta and Tony Schicktanz.  Regis (27-16) scored on more in the second on a Cody Hastings single that scored Nick Billinger.

New Mexico Highlands (28-23) got a run back in the second inning but the Regis offense and Brault would make sure that there was no doubt. 

The Rangers sent eight batters to the plate in the fourth inning with four of them crossing the plate.  Brault helped himself out with a triple that scored Hastings and Billinger.  The Rangers scored three more in the sixth inning and cruised to the 12-4 win.

Hastings was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs.  Shoutta, Tony Schicktanz, Ryan Eustice, and Bob Terry each collected two hits. 

Eustice also came up big in the field in the Highlands sixth inning.  With runners on second and third and one Chris Pile hit a shallow fly ball to right field and the charging Eustice caught it and threw a strike to catcher Ty Overboe to complete the double play and tagging the runner from third base to end the inning.

Brault was stellar on the mound going eight innings scattering five hits and allowing just two earned runs.  He struck out eight Cowboy hitters, while walking just two.

Shoutta drove in three runs to lead the Rangers, while Hastings, Tony Piazza and Brault all drove in two.  Jake Long came on in the ninth inning to secure the Rangers allowing two runs, both solo homeruns.

Regis will move on and play CSU-Pueblo tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.