TOPEKA, Kan. – The Regis University baseball team regained its composure after being at the wrong end of a doubleheader sweep on Saturday and ended its four-game series at Washburn on a high note, winning with a commanding 16-4 victory at Falley Field on Sunday.
 
How It Happened: In the midst of a three-run third with the Rangers leading, 4-2, junior outfielder Kyle Koontz hit a two-RBI single and advanced to second on the throw. More importantly, it brought home freshman infielder Austin Vaught from third and senior catcher Kennedy Phillips from second to extend the Regis lead to 6-2, putting it out of reach from the Ichabods. Vaught hit an RBI single up the middle earlier in the inning, prior to advancing on an error, and Phillips was hit by a pitch to get on base and stole second.
 
Three more runs came for RU in the fourth. Junior catcher Roger Riley, who doubled to center to open the inning, scored from third after freshman infielder Matt Marlow grounded into a double play. Riley's run put the Rangers at a 7-2 lead.
 
Further down the fourth inning, Vaught doubled to right field to knock in both junior infielder Brevin Owen at second and senior outfielder Ryan Tierney at first for a 9-2 advantage. Owen reached base by singling to right, while Tierney singled through the left side.
 
Regis then had its biggest share of runs in the fifth. An RBI double to center by senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman allowed Koontz to score from second, growing the RU lead to 10-2. Koontz walked and advanced to second due to a wild pitch.
 
Marlow then singled to shortstop, scoring him an RBI when redshirt freshman infielder Colten Chase, who walked, crossed home plate from third to bring the Rangers to an 11-2 lead. 
 
In the next at-bat, Owen capped the fifth with his two-RBI double to right center to grow Regis's leading margin to 13-2. The double scored Zimmerman from third and Marlow from first.
 
RU added another run in the sixth, 14-2, on account of redshirt sophomore outfielder McKay Banks's RBI fielder's choice, bringing home Koontz from third. Koontz reached first on a hit-by-pitch.
 
Washburn doubled its run tally in the seventh. The first run came on junior catcher Kros Bay's sacrifice fly to center, allowing sophomore outfielder Mitchell Lady to score from third. The second run, which made the score, 14-4, occurred on a bases-loaded walk to senior catcher Steven Jacobson that forced senior outfielder Peter Shearer home from third. Lady struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch, and Shearer made it to first on a fielder's choice.
 
The Rangers tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth when Vaught doubled to left field, scoring junior infielder/pitcher Thomas Alexander from second and Tierney all the way from first to bring the contest to its final score. Alexander singled to third before Tierney walked in the succeeding at-bat.
 
Regis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on Owen's two-RBI double to left, advancing Riley from third and Banks from second. Riley reached first on an error by the shortstop, and Banks knocked a double to center.
 
Tierney then reached first on the next at-bat due to an error at third, and Marlow took advantage by scoring from third for a 3-0 lead. Marlow made it to first on a walk.
 
The game appeared to be close early on as WU scored twice in the bottom half of the first. Redshirt sophomore infielder Brett Ingram reached base on an error before advancing to second. Meanwhile, senior infielder Xavier De Leon scored an unearned run on the play for a 3-1 deficit. De Leon commenced the inning with a single to right center and reached second on a wild pitch.
 
The score became 3-2 when Ingram, after getting to third on a passed ball, stole home on a double steal also involving junior outfielder Parker Dunn's successful steal to second. Dunn was hit by a pitch to reach first.
 
The first run in the top of the third took place on Vaught's RBI single up the middle, providing Owen the opportunity to score from third base for RU's 4-2 lead. Owen was walked to reach first base.
 
Game Notes: In a game full of standout performances, one of the top performances came from Vaught, who went 5-for-6, with a share of the game-high two doubles, one run scored, and a game-high five RBI. Owen went 3-for-3, with a share of the game-highs of two doubles and two runs scored as well as four RBI and a walk. Zimmerman went 2-for-3, including a double, with a run scored and an RBI. Koontz finished with a 1-for-3 day at the plate, contributing a share of the game-high two runs scored and two RBI. Sophomore pitcher Justin Kleinsorge (3-0) pitched 6.1 innings on the bump, allowing four runs (three earned), one hit, and one walk, while striking out 11 batters in the win.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Rangers improve to a 4-6 record overall. Regis will play its first home series of the 2020 season while capping off non-conference play when it hosts Northern State (0-0) to begin a four-game series at Regis Baseball Field on Friday at noon.