GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Just one day removed from sweeping the Adams State side of its pod, the Regis University baseball team endured the opposite outcome to host No. 2 Colorado Mesa, which defeated the Rangers again by a score of 6-3 at Suplizio Field on Sunday.
 
"This last weekend was another good learning weekend for our program," said Regis University Head Baseball Coach Drew LaComb. "Our players competed and played hard but didn't execute some little things at some crucial times. That's the game of baseball, and we just need to get back to work at minimizing our mistakes. [I am] Proud of our guys, and I expect them to have a good week this week in our next series."

How It Happened: Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore outfielder Tanner Garner, who singled through the right side to open the inning, scored an unearned run from third on a throwing error to give the Mavericks a 4-2 lead that was too much for Regis to overcome.
 
A pair of insurance runs were added in the seventh on sophomore catcher Haydn McGeary's two-run home run to right center, which also scored junior infielder Chase Hamilton from first, for a lead of 6-2. Hamilton led off the seventh with a single up the middle.
 
RU senior outfielder Kyle Koontz then hit a solo home run to right center in the eighth for a Rangers' deficit of 6-3, which was the eventual final score.
 
McGeary's RBI groundout to shortstop in the first allowed senior outfielder Tyler Parker, who had an inning-opening walk, to come home from third for a fast, 1-0 advantage for Colorado Mesa.
 
CMU doubled its lead, 2-0, in the second when Garner scored off of freshman infielder/pitcher Jonathan Gonzalez's RBI single to center. Garner opened the second on a single to right.
 
The Mavericks' advantage was cushioned to 3-0 in the fourth when sophomore infielder Conrad Villafuerte hit a solo home run to left.
 
Regis finally ended the shutout in the sixth on Koontz's solo home run to right center for a 3-1 deficit.
 
Later in the sixth, senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman's single to left allowed senior utility player Thomas Alexander to score from second to bring RU within a run of Colorado Mesa, 3-2. Alexander singled to left center.
 
Game Notes: Koontz had a 2-for-3 day, consisting of two home runs, and registered two runs scored, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Zimmerman posted a 2-for-4 showing at the plate and had one RBI. Senior outfielder Ryan Tierney finished with a 3-for-4 outcome with the bat. Sophomore pitcher Porter Hardcastle (1-1) pitched 7.0 innings in the loss during which he struck out eight while giving up six runs (five earned), nine hits, and three walks.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Rangers fall to a 16-4 record overall and a 12-4 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. Regis, which has received a vote in the NCAA Division II national poll, returns home to host New Mexico Highlands (6-14, 4-12 RMAC) in a four-game series at Regis Baseball Field that starts on Thursday at 3 p.m.