GREELEY, Colo. – Riding their eight-game conference winning streak, the Regis University baseball team (16-7, 9-3 RMAC) found a way to take down Division I opponent University of Northern Colorado (8-12, 0-0 WAC) 5-4 in a non-conference game that went into extra innings.
The win streak extends to nine-straight as Regis won yet another game in extra innings this season. The Rangers were led by junior Garrett Skillings who tallied three hits in four plate appearances, including a double and a triple. RU had six players record hits in the game, and the defense did not commit a single error.
How it Happened: Regis drew first blood in this one as sophomore Logan Heflebower (1-4, RBI) delivered a two-out single to left field, in the top of the second inning, bringing junior Christian Bitar (1-4, RBI) across the plate for the first run of the game.
Freshman Cobe Karhoff got the start and he did a great job early. The righty did not allow a single hit to the Bears until the bottom of the fourth inning. However, the home squad managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the second with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Rangers regained the lead, 2-1, as Coby Zimmerman (0-2, R) scored on an error in the top of the third inning. Once again, UNC countered with runs of their own in the bottom half of the fourth taking their first lead of the game 3-2, and then extended that lead to 4-2 later in the inning.
A sacrifice fly from Bitar in the top of the sixth brought RU within one run, and then a sacrifice bunt from junior Zach Dedin (0-0, SAC) in the top of the seventh knotted the game at four runs apiece. Neither team scored a run for the rest of regulation and the game moved into extra innings.
After a leadoff walk to freshman Kennedy Phillips (0-0, BB) in the top of the tenth, followed by a sacrifice bunt, senior Josh Newell (1-5, 2B, RBI) doubled to left center scoring pinch-runner Antonio Salazar to put Regis ahead 5-4 heading into the bottom of the tenth. Junior Patrick Kenny (S, 3) earned his third save of the season, getting the visitors to go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth, striking out two batters.
Game Notes: Six players recorded at least one hit in the game, with five of their eight total hits going for extra bases. Senior Nick DiPaola (W, 2-0) picked up the win as he pitched 3.1 innings, striking out two and allowing one hit, holding the Bears scoreless.
Up Next for the Rangers: The team will remain on the road that weekend as they make their way to Las Vegas, New Mexico to face New Mexico Highlands University in a four-game conference series, looking to continue their conference winning streak.
