DENVER – The Regis University baseball team experienced a true test under mostly sunny skies in its doubleheader against No. 1 Colorado Mesa and endured defeats of 27-4 in the opener and 6-3 in the closer at Regis Baseball Field on Sunday.
 
How It Happened | Game 1: Up 4-3 in the fifth inning, Mavericks freshman infielder Harrison Rodgers singled to right to score sophomore infielder Conrad Villafuerte, who walked, from second for a 5-3 lead. This was all Colorado Mesa needed and marked the first of six runs for CMU in the fifth.
 
Facing a deficit of 11-3 in the sixth, the Rangers last added to their run tally on senior infielder Brevin Owen's solo home run to right, which cut into the Mavericks' lead, 11-4.
 
After amassing multiple runs in the seventh, Colorado Mesa tacked on three more runs in the eighth. The last of those runs came on junior infielder Johnny Carr's single through the left side to send junior first baseman Nolan Walker home from third. Walker, who was the game's final run, walked to reach first.
 
CMU started its offense early when sophomore outfielder Tanner Garner, who opened the game with a walk, crossed home plate from third on sophomore catcher Haydn McGeary's single through the left side for a quick 1-0 Mavericks' lead.
 
Regis battled back in the bottom half of the first. Redshirt sophomore infielder Colten Chase scored on senior outfielder Kyle Koontz's sacrifice fly to right field for a 2-1 deficit. Chase opened the inning on a single through the left side.
 
RU tied the game, 2-2, when senior catcher Roger Riley scored on a wild pitch. Riley made it to first on a fielder's choice.
 
Down 4-2 in the bottom of the third, the Rangers came back within a run of Colorado Mesa on sophomore infielder Matt Marlow's single to right to score Chase from third for a one-run, 4-3 CMU advantage.
 
Game Notes: Chase had a 1-for-3 performance in the doubleheader opener, scored two runs, and stole two bases for Regis. Owen also contributed a 1-for-3 showing to go along with a run scored and an RBI, which were all on account of his home run. Koontz added a 1-for-2 opener and had an RBI. Marlow, in addition to his 1-for-4 result with the bat, had an RBI. Riley (0-for-2) scored RU's remaining run.
 
How It Happened | Game 2: With the Mavericks leading by a score of 3-0 in the top of the second, freshman infielder/pitcher Jonathan Gonzalez's RBI groundout to second allowed Rodgers to score from third for a 4-0 advantage, which would prove insurmountable for the rest of the game.
 
Marlow put the Rangers on the board in the bottom half of the second, 4-1, upon scoring on Owen's RBI groundout to shortstop. Marlow opened the inning with a double to left.
 
The deficit was cut to a 4-2 margin in the fourth when senior outfielder Ryan Tierney doubled to right field, bringing home Marlow from first after he walked.
 
Colorado Mesa padded its lead with two insurance runs in the sixth. The latter of those runs occurred when Villafuerte, who walked, advanced to home on Rodgers' RBI single up the middle to give CMU a 6-2 lead.
 
Down but not out, Regis mounted a threatening comeback in the bottom of the seventh. After Tierney reached first on a fielding error, senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman drilled a double down the left-field line to allow Tierney to score for a 6-3 deficit.
 
RU even had the game-winning run at the plate with the bases loaded later in the inning. However, Tierney's run was the final one of the doubleheader closer.  
 
The Mavericks ended a scoreless tie in the second. The first two runs came on a two-run double to left by junior infielder Caleb Farmer that scored junior infielder Jordan Stubbings from third and junior catcher Spencer Bramwell from second. Colorado Mesa eventually ended the second with a 3-0 advantage.
 
Game Notes: Chase closed out the doubleheader with a 2-for-4 outcome at the plate, including a triple. Marlow and Tierney each doubled in their respective 1-for-2 results with the bat, scoring two runs and one run, respectively. Tierney also had an RBI and a walk. Zimmerman posted a 1-for-3 margin offensively, consisting of a double, and registered an RBI. Owen (0-for-3) recorded an RBI. Sophomore pitcher Porter Hardcastle (1-2) threw 4.0 innings during which he struck out two and gave up four runs, three hits, and two walks.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Rangers fall to a 16-6 record overall and a 12-6 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. Regis next hosts Colorado School of Mines (4-16, 4-16 RMAC) in a four-game series, which commences at Regis Baseball Field on Friday at 3 p.m.