DENVER – The Regis University baseball team needed every run of its series closer with Northern State and successfully concluded its weekend with a slim 6-5 win at Regis Baseball Field on Sunday.
 
How It Happened: The Rangers held onto a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth with junior infielder Brevin Owen on first and redshirt sophomore outfielder McKay Banks on third pulled off a successful double steal. Owen reached second safely, but more importantly, Banks touched home for a 6-3 Regis lead. RU maintained a sufficient six-run count for the rest of the game. Banks made it to first on a fielder's choice, while Owen reached first on a throwing error.
 
A wild pitch with bases loaded and with redshirt sophomore shortstop Isaiah Chevalier at the plate allowed redshirt junior infielder Ben Carolin to score from third for a Wolves' 6-4 deficit. Carolin singled to third earlier in the inning.
 
A two-run deficit was cut in half, 6-5, when redshirt freshman shortstop Jack Paulson reached home on junior outfielder Connor Burgess's walk on a wild pitch. Paulson pinch hit and walked to reach first.
 
The Rangers received a nail-biting, bases-loaded scenario with two outs in the top of the ninth. Fortunately, senior pitcher Tyce O'Neill escaped the threat by forcing redshirt freshman infielder Mitchell Tolk, who pinch hit, to groundout to second.
 
Northern State struck first in the series closer's third inning on senior outfielder Chad Hinkle's two-RBI double down the left-field line, bringing home Burgess from third and redshirt sophomore catcher Spencer Sarringar from second for a 2-0 lead. Burgess claimed first on a fielding error and eventually reached third on a wild pitch, while Sarringar walked and later stole second.
 
Regis cut its deficit in half, 2-1, in the bottom half of the third on Banks's single through the left side that scored redshirt freshman infielder Colten Chase from third. Chase doubled down the left-field line and made it to third on a wild pitch.
 
RU both tied and took the lead in the fourth. The tie occurred when Owen scored on an error from third to knot the game at 2-2. Owen opened the fourth with a double to right center and stole third as well.
 
On base with Owen was senior outfielder Ryan Tierney, who walked, stole second, and reached third on the throwing error. Tierney represented the go-ahead run, 3-2, when he scored on senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to center.
 
The game was tied at 3-3 when Chevalier came home from third on a wild pitch in the fifth. Chevalier commenced the fifth by arriving at first on a throwing error and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and groundout, respectively.
 
The Rangers retook the lead, 4-3, on Banks's RBI fielder's choice, which allowed Chase to run home from third. Chase singled to center to start the inning.
 
The Regis lead became 5-3 when Owen arrived at first on a throwing error and moved junior outfielder Kyle Koontz to home from third. Koontz hit a single to third earlier in the inning.
 
Game Notes: Chase went 2-for-2, including a double, and scored a game-high two runs. Koontz, Banks and Owen all went 1-for-4 and scored a run. Owen's hit was a double, and he also had an RBI and a game-high two stolen bases. Banks additionally had a share of the game-high two RBI and one stolen base. Tierney scored a run, had a walk, and stole a base. Sophomore pitcher Justin Kleinsorge (4-0) continued his winning ways with 5.2 innings of work in which he allowed five runs (two earned), four hits, and three walks, while striking out four. O'Neill claimed his third save on the year with 1.0 inning pitched in which he allowed a hit and a walk, while striking out one.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: RU climbs to an 8-6 record overall in the series sweep. The Rangers go back on the road to begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play at No. 6 Colorado Mesa (10-4) in a four-game series. The first game of the series will take place at Suplizio Field on Friday at 3 p.m.