DENVER, Colo. – In the final game of the four-game set, the Regis University baseball team (6-9, 0-4 RMAC) fell to the Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves (10-5, 4-0 RMAC) for the fourth game in a row.

For the third time in the four game series, a game was decided by less than two runs with CSU-P taking the victory over Regis 5-4 in nine innings. The Thunderwolves drew first blood scoring two runs in the top of the third inning, and extending the lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth.

The Rangers were finally able to put something together as they scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run homerun from sophomore Connor Rochon (1-4, HR, 2 RBI's) his second of the year. Rochon's homer brought the RU deficit to only one run, 3-2, after six full innings.

CSU-P would get the runs back in the top of the eight inning as two run-scoring singles gave them a 5-2 lead with only six outs left offensively for Regis. The Rangers could not get anything done in the eighth, but in the bottom of the ninth, RU showed signs of life.

Sophomore Andrew Bryniarski (1-4, 2B, R) doubled to the left-center gap, waking up the bats for the home team. A wild pitch allowed Bryniarski to advance to third with a pinch-hitter coming to the plate. Sophomore Zach Dedin stepped in to pinch hit and drew a walk, putting the tying run at the plate for Regis.

Another pinch-hitter for the Rangers, sophomore Christian Bitar, stepped to the plate. Another wild pitch from the Thunderwolves pitcher allowed pinch-runner Weston Byers to advance to second, with Bryniarski scoring on the play. On the next pitch, Bitar sent a laser back up the middle, scoring Byers from second and bringing RU within one run of CSU-P. Regis got things started a little too late as the final batter of the game grounded out to the Thunderwolves second baseman, ending the game with the Thunderwolves ahead 5-4.

Although the team battled back, the Rangers were unable to take a victory in the series. Senior Kirby Schwein (0-1) pitched a great game, scattering ten hits over 6.2 innings, giving up only three earned runs in the game. Senior Casey Kennedy came on in relief recording seven outs, allowing three hits, and not giving up any earned runs. The two RU errors proved costly as two runs came across due to the errors.  

The baseball team will return home March 18-20 to host New Mexico Highlands University (4-13, 1-3 RMAC) in a four-game conference series. Next weekend the team will travel to Adams State University (7-10, 3-1 RMAC) to face the Grizzlies in a four-game conference matchup.