GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – In a high scoring affair, the No. 6 seeded Regis University baseball team (27-22, 18-16) topped the No. 1 seed, Colorado Mesa (36-14, 26-10) 15-12 after seven lead changes. 
 
How It Happened: Despite the first two Regis batters being retired in order, they got the scoring started with two runs in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles to right-center by junior Connor Rochon and senior Andrew Bryniarski put two Rangers on board. They both came around to score on a two RBI-double to left-field by senior Garrett Skillings. 
 
In the bottom of the first, CMU strung together three straight singles and managed to score six runs on six hits, including one two-run homerun, before senior Brad Thoutt could end the bleeding. Thoutt retired the last to batters with a groundout and a strikeout. 
 
RU quickly regrouped and loaded the bases with their first three batters in the second. Sophomore Ryan Tierney singled down the left-field line and junior Logan Heflebower followed with a single to left-field. Three ducks were on the pond after freshman Marcus Salvato laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first-base. 
 
The first two runs of the inning scored on a two-RBI single through the left side by senior Chris Kobar. Skillings added another RBI with a hit up the middle, scoring Kobar. A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed Regis to get two more runs across the plate and take a 7-6 lead. 
 
The game was tied with a solo shot to right-field by the lead-off batter in the bottom of the second inning. CMU regained the edge on the scoreboard with one more run in the inning. 
 
Senior Zach Dedin hammered a three-run shot to give the Rangers a 10-8 advantage in the fourth inning. After Dedin's homer, Tierney drew a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, he then scored on a Heflebower RBI-double. RU led 11-8 after 3.5 innings played. 
 
Thoutt was able to get Regis out of a one out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning by forcing an infield fly and a fly-out to center-field, respectively. Although the Rangers got out of the fifth inning with no damage done, they did surrender a solo homerun in the sixth, making the score 11-9. CMU threatened to score another run, but Salvato made a spectacular play at second-base to complete the groundout and put the sixth inning to rest. 
 
The Mavericks went ahead 12-11 with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Tierney had the answer RU needed. He cranked a two-out, two-run homerun, scoring Bryniarski and himself in the eighth inning, giving Regis a 13-12 lead.
 
Senior Patrick Kenny gave up a lead-off single in the eighth inning but forced a 6-3 double play to get out of the inning. 
 
The Rangers gave themselves more of a cushion in the ninth inning. With zero outs, Rochon drew a walk, scoring one free run for RU. They got another free run on a second bases-loaded walk, making the score 15-12. 
Regis turned a 6-4-3 double-play to end the game 15-12. 
 
Game Notes: Skillings (4-6, 3 RBI, 1 2B) lead Regis in hits as he tied a season-high four hits. Bryniarski (3-5), Heflebower (3-5, 1 RBI, 1 2B), and Salvato (3-5) each had three hits as the Rangers totaled 20 hits. 
 
RU was outhit 22-20. 
 
Thoutt (9-3) allowed nine runs on 14 hits in six innings of work, but still had the lead 11-9 when he was replaced on the mound. He recorded seven strikeouts against 35 batters. 
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University baseball team will play No. 3 seeded UCCS tomorrow, May 10 at 3 p.m.