Box Score DENVER, Colo. – For the first time since March 6, the Regis University baseball (12-17, 6-11 RMAC) team played a game at home as they hosted Colorado Christian University (8-26, 3-18 RMAC) for the first game of a four-game conference series.
In one of the most riveting games of the season, Regis earned a walk-off win in the bottom of the 12th inning as sophomore Mickey Meinhofer (1-2, RBI) singled to right field, giving the Rangers the 8-7 victory over CCU.
RU got things started in the first inning as a single from senior Drew LaComb (3-6, RBI) sent junior Josh Newell (3-7, 2R) across the plate for the first run of the ballgame. Through the middle innings, the Cougars would score four unanswered runs ultimately taking a 5-1 lead into the eighth inning.
It was the bottom of the eighth inning when the drama began to mount. Regis got one run back before surrendering two more to CCU in the top of the ninth. With only a glimmer of hope, trailing 7-2, the Rangers came storming back.
Senior Dylan Navarro (3-4, 2B, RBI) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that allowed Newell to score. After a pitching change, and with the bases still loaded, senior Weston Byers (1-4, 2B, 3 RBI's) stepped up to the plate looking to do some damage. Byers drilled a pitch to deep left field as the ball hit off the top of the wall. Byers made his way to second base on a bases clearing double, bringing the home team within one run.
The next batter, sophomore Zach Dedin (3-5, 2 RBI's), laced a ball to right field for a single, scoring Byers on the play and tying the game at seven runs apiece. After the third out of the inning, both teams headed into extra innings to find a victor.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, RU had loaded the bases with only one out in the inning. Pinch hitter senior Brian Sture fouled out for the second out in the inning. With two outs, senior CJ McGrady stepped to the plate and was eventually called out on strikes, sending the game into the 12th inning.
After a 1-2-3 top half of the 12th, LaComb singled to put the pressure on the Cougars. LaComb then stole second base, advancing himself into scoring position. Senior Ty Overboe got ahold of a pitch and sent it into right field, deep enough for LaComb to advance to third base. CCU walked sophomore Connor Rochon (4-6, 3 2B, R, BB), putting runners on at the corners with two outs.
Meinhofer stepped to the plate for his second at-bat after being subbed into the game in the top of the eighth inning. With the game on the line, two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, Meinhofer drilled the pitch into right field for the walk-off single, giving Regis the 8-7 victory.
Senior Casey Kennedy picked up the win for the Rangers as he came on in the top of the ninth inning and shut the Cougars out for 3.2 innings. Kennedy did not give up a single hit while he was on the mound and struck out three batters on the way to the win.
The series will continue tomorrow as the baseball team plays two games against the visiting Cougars. The first game will begin at noon and the second will start at 3 p.m. The series finale will be held on Sunday at noon to complete the four-game series.
