DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University baseball team (11-7, 5-3 RMAC) earned their first series sweep of the season, winning the series finale 10-7 over the Adams State University Grizzlies (6-12, 0-4 RMAC) on Sunday afternoon.

How it Happened: Adams State once again struck first, but this time it was not until the top of the third inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, a two-RBI bloop single to right field put the Grizzlies on top 2-0 after the visiting half of the third.

Regis responded with a run of their own with a single to right field from senior Josh Newell bringing senior Max Fabricant around to score the Rangers' first run of the game. However, back-to-back solo homeruns from Adams, and an RBI single extended the Grizzlies lead to 5-1 after the top half of the fourth.

For the second straight inning, RU countered with runs of their own when a leadoff walk to sophomore Logan Heflebower, followed by a triple from junior Chris Kobar cut the lead to 5-2. The Adams State pitcher was called for a balk awarding Kobar the trot home to score, bringing Regis within two runs at 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Bitar continued his hot hitting as he clobbered a shot of f the left field fence for a double, scoring two on the hit, and tying the game at five runs apiece.

Junior Andrew Bryniarski gave the home team their first lead of the game, 6-5, with a double of his own off the right field fence scoring Bitar from second base.
The visitors took the lead back in the top of the sixth, 7-6, but the Rangers struck again with a two out double from Heflebower, scoring two and taking back the lead 8-7 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Heading into the bottom of the eighth, RU was looking for some insurance runs and that is exactly what they got with a two-run, opposite-field blast from Bryniarski extending the lead to three runs 10-7.

Junior Patrick Kenny came on in the top of the ninth to close the game out, getting a flyout, a strikeout and a groundout to earn his first save of the season in the 10-7 win over the Grizzlies.

Game Notes: Regis has now scored eight or more runs six times this season, including three times this series. The Rangers bashed 13 hits on the day with Bitar leading the way going 4-for-5 from the plate with two doubles and two RBI's. Newell (3-5, RBI) and Bryniarski (3-4, HR, 3 RBI) each had three hits on the day as well. Senior Nick DiPaola earned his first victory of the season pitching 2.1 innings, giving up only three hits, and not surrendering a single run.

Up Next for the Rangers:  The baseball team will head out on the road for a four-game series with the Cougars of Colorado Christian University beginning on Friday, March 17 at 3 p.m. Saturday will consist of a doubleheader scheduled for noon and 3 p.m. and the series finale will be Sunday, March 19 at noon.