DENVER, Colo. – Two runs in the top of the fifth inning were not enough for the Regis University baseball team (8-18, 3-10 RMAC) as they fell 2-5 to cross-town rival Metropolitan State University Denver (18-7, 11-2 RMAC) on Saturday afternoon at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
How It Happened: The Roadrunners turned a lead-off walk into the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, forcing the Rangers to play from behind.
 
Through four innings of play, the RU offense recorded three hits and left all three runners stranded, but they were finally able to breakthrough and score in the fifth inning. Senior Mickey Meinhofer, who reached base via a base-knock to center field, advanced into scoring position when junior Kennedy Phillips laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher.
 
The third batter of the inning, freshman Miguel Marquez, drew a walk to place two runners on the base path. An error by the Roadrunners shortstop allowed Meinhofer to score the first Regis run and placed junior Ryan Tierney on base. Marquez and Tierney combined for a double steal, sending the go-ahead run in Marquez across homeplate to give the Rangers a 2-1 edge.
 
The RU advantage lasted just one inning before the Roadrunners could even the game at two a piece in the sixth inning. MSU Denver then used a three-run homerun in the seventh inning to regain their lead, 2-5. The Roadrunners maintained their lead as Regis recorded just one hit and left one on base in the last two innings.
 
Game Notes: The Rangers collectively accounted for six hits, all from different batters. Senior Connor Rochon (1-2, 1 2B) recorded the only extra-base hit for RU. The Roadrunners tallied one more hit than Regis but committed two errors compared to just one for the Rangers.
 
Senior Matt Heibult (3-1) was given his first loss of the season after pitching just 0.2 innings on Saturday. He allowed three runs on three hits while fanning two batters. Senior Chris Isbell got the start on the bump. He went 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs while retiring four Roadrunners on strikes.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University baseball team will look to get their fourth conference win tomorrow with a doubleheader against MSU-Denver beginning at 1 p.m.