GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University baseball team faced two opponents in as many games to begin its pod series with a pair of conference foes, starting things off with an 11-2 win over Adams State before suffering a 6-3 loss to pod host No. 2 Colorado Mesa at Suplizio Field on Friday.
 
Game 1 | How It Happened: Already leading by a score of 2-0 in the top of the third with the bases loaded, Rangers senior outfielder Ryan Tierney knocked a single to left to score senior outfielder Kyle Koontz from third to lengthen the advantage to 3-0. Following this run, Regis had all that it needed to secure the win.
 
The Grizzlies scored their only two runs in the bottom half of the inning on senior utility player Kolton Bleggi's two-run home run to left, which brought home junior outfielder Chase Dixon and trimmed the deficit to a run, 3-2. Dixon walked in the previous at-bat.
 
Later leading by a 6-2 margin, RU put together a four-run eighth inning. The span of runs started on senior infielder Brevin Owen's bases-loaded walk to score sophomore infielder Austin Vaught, who was on third and led off with a single up the middle, to extend the Rangers' lead to 7-2.
 
Tierney then cleared the bases on the next at-bat with a double to right center to score redshirt sophomore infielder Colten Chase, Koontz, and Owen from third, second, and first, respectively, for a considerable, 10-2 lead. Chase singled to right, and Koontz was walked intentionally.
 
Regis then pulled off an impressive triple play in the bottom half of the eighth. Vaught, Chase, and senior utility player Thomas Alexander were respectively playing second, shortstop, and first in that play.
 
RU last added to its total in the ninth, 11-2, when Chase tripled to left center and later scored on a balk.
 
The Rangers took a first-inning lead of 1-0 on sophomore infielder Matt Marlow's single up the middle, which brought Chase home from third. Chase had a game-opening walk.

Game Notes: Chase pulled off a 3-for-5 showing at the plate, including a triple, scored a game-high four runs, had a walk, and had a stolen base. Tierney had a 2-for-4 performance with the bat, including a double, to go along with a game-high four RBI. Marlow claimed a 2-for-4 result offensively and recorded an RBI. Koontz finished with a 2-for-5 outcome during which he had two runs scored and two RBI. Senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman posted a 1-for-3 margin, consisting of a solo home run. Senior pitcher Adam Hubley (2-1) earned the win with his 7.0 innings of work in which he struck out six while giving up two runs, five hits, and four walks.
 
Game 2 | How It Happened: Up 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Mavericks junior infielder Caleb Farmer advanced to third as part of a double steal and reached home following a throwing error to make the score, 4-0. Colorado Mesa had enough distance from Regis after that run came home. Farmer singled to center to reach base.
 
RU ended the shutout in the fifth, 4-1, on Zimmerman's RBI groundout to second, which allowed Alexander to cross home plate from third. Alexander walked to get on base.
 
CMU then answered with a run of its own in the fifth's bottom half to return the cushion to four runs, 5-1, on sophomore catcher Haydn McGeary's unearned run that came when sophomore catcher/first baseman Chris Hamilton reached first on a fielding error. McGeary also reached base on a fielding error.
 
The Rangers cut their deficit in half, 5-3, in the eighth. Marlow's double to right permitted both senior catcher Roger Riley and Koontz to score from third and second, respectively. Riley singled up the middle, and Koontz reached first on a fielding error and advanced to second as well.
 
The Mavericks scored the game's final run in the bottom half of that frame. Freshman infielder/pitcher Jonathan Gonzalez's RBI single to right brought junior infielder Jordan Stubbings home from second. Stubbings singled to left, and his run sent the game to its final result.
 
Colorado Mesa's first inning was also its biggest. Both sophomore outfielder Tanner Garner and McGeary scored unearned runs on a throwing error stemming from an at-bat by Stubbings, who also reached base on the throwing error. These two runs gave CMU a fast, 2-0 lead.
 
Another run came in the second for the Mavericks. A Gonzalez RBI single to right advanced Farmer home for an extended advantage of 3-0. Farmer doubled down the left-field line to open the inning.
 
Game Notes: Marlow closed the day with a 2-for-4 outcome at the plate, including a double, in addition to two RBI. Chase finished with a 2-for-5 showing. Junior pitcher Justin Kleinsorge pitched 6.0 innings during which he struck out 11 and surrendered five runs (one earned), six hits, and a walk.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: Regis moves to a 15-3 record overall and an 11-3 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. RU will continue the pod and will play Adams State (3-8, 2-5 RMAC) at Suplizio Field on Saturday at noon.