DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University baseball team (5-1) swept Nebraska-Kearney (2-6) in their home-opener doubleheader. Regis won the first game 6-2 in seven innings. The second game went into extra innings until the Rangers claimed the victory, 6-5, in the bottom of the 11th. 

How It Happened | Game 1: RU went 3 up 3 down in the first inning but jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Senior Andrew Bryniarski kicked it off with a double to right center. Senior Garrett Skillings placed a double of his own up the right field line to score Bryniarski and get on the board. 

Senior Zach Dedin singled through the right side, advancing Skillings to third. Junior Logan Heflebower was next, reaching first on an error and driving Skillings home. Junior Mickey Meinhofer reached first on a bunt to load the bases. Sophomore Ryan Tierney and sophomore Coby Zimmerman each knocked in an RBI to end the second inning with a four-run lead. 

The Lopers responded with a solo run in the top of the third and the fourth to bring the game within two, 4-2. 

Regis brought their final two runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Chris Kobar reached base on a fielding error which allowed Zimmerman to cross home for the first run of the inning. Junior Connor Rochon hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Kobar.

Game Notes | Game 1: Byrniarski and Tierney each recorded two hits in the outing. Five other Rangers added a solo hit. RU also had five different athletes post RBIs. On the mound, senior Brad Thoutt threw five innings earning the win. Thoutt had nine strikeouts in 21 batters faced. Freshman Scott Vinceri and senior Chris Quackenbush each spent one inning on the mound. Quackenbush held Nebraska-Kearney to zero hits while Vinceri allowed only one. 

How It Happened | Game 2: UNK was first to the board in the second game. They drove in their first run in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. 

Regis managed to snag the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Dedin started the inning with a walk and Kennedy Phillips reached first on a shot to right field. Phillips advanced to second and Dedin crossed the plate on errors for the Ranger's first run of the game. 

Phillips added the second run for RU on a wild pitch. Zimmerman singled through the left side to bring Heflebower home and gain the two-run lead. 

The Lopers responded right back bring around two more runs to tie the score back at 3-3 headed to the bottom of the sixth. 

Regis had an answer in Rochon and Bryniarski. Rochon reached second on a shot to right center and Bryniarski drove him in on a double of his own. Dedin stepped up to single through right and bring Bryniarski across the plate for a 5-3 lead. 
 
UNK's efforts were not over yet as they tied the game up again at 5-5 in the top of the seventh. The game headed to extra innings as the Rangers couldn't manage to cross home in the bottom of the seventh. 

The game stretched on into the 11th inning before either team was able to put another run on the board. Bryniarski reached first on a walk to start the bottom of the 11th. He advanced to second on a passed ball and Dedin was able to drive him in on a double to left center to claim the walk-off victory. 

Game Notes | Game 2: RU posted ten total hits. Dedin and Phillips claimed two each. Dedin also led the team with two RBIs. Bryniarski crossed home twice, the most for Regis. Senior Jake Griffith earned the win from the mound. Senior Noah Gotsis threw 5.2 innings, allowing three runs, only one earned, with six strikeouts. Senior Patrick Kenny recorded two Ks in just five batters faced. Quackenbush threw for 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit and zero runs. Griffith closed the game striking out the solo batter he saw. 

Next Up for the Rangers: The Rangers are back home tomorrow for a doubleheader against Wayne State College. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Regis Baseball Field.