DENVER – The Regis University baseball team concluded its 2021 season slate of games against No. 1 Colorado Mesa with an afternoon doubleheader. However, the Rangers were met with a tough 14-1 loss in the opener and a 12-8 defeat in the closer at Regis Baseball Field on Monday.
 
How It Happened | Game 1: With the game scoreless in the top of the first and sophomore outfielder Tanner Garner on second, junior outfielder Matthew Turner drilled a two-run home run to left field for a quick 2-0 lead in favor of the Mavericks. This was all the run support Colorado Mesa would need.
 
CMU led by a score of 4-0 in the seventh when Turner sent another home run to left with freshman infielder Harrison Rodgers on second to extend the advantage to 6-0. Rodgers doubled to left center to open the inning.
 
This preceded a solo home run to left center by sophomore catcher Haydn McGeary to give the Mavericks a 7-0 lead in the following at-bat.
 
After an eighth inning in which Regis's deficit doubled, RU's bats started to produce multiple hits in the ninth inning.
 
Redshirt sophomore infielder Colten Chase knocked a double to left center with only one out in the ninth. Chase crossed home plate and ended the shutout on senior catcher Roger Riley's RBI single to left to trim the Rangers' deficit to 14-1, which would prove to be the final score.
 
Game Notes: Chase opened the day with a 1-for-2 showing with the bat, consisting of the aforementioned double, scored one run, and walked twice. Senior outfielder Andy Beyene recorded a 1-for-3 outcome at the plate, consisting of a double. Riley, senior infielder Brevin Owen, and sophomore infielder Matt Marlow all had 1-for-4 performances in the doubleheader opener. Riley also registered an RBI. Freshman outfielder Levi Padilla singled in his only plate appearance.
 
How It Happened | Game 2: Holding an 8-1 lead in the fourth, Colorado Mesa reached a 9-1 advantage when Rodgers singled to center to score junior infielder Jordan Stubbings from second. CMU had all the runs it needed from this point forward, and this marked the third run of a five-run inning for the Mavericks.
 
Facing an 11-1 deficit in the fifth, Regis made a huge dent in its margin in the form of a five-run inning.
 
The run surge was sparked by a Marlow double to right center that brought home Padilla and Chase from second and first, respectively, and gave RU an 11-3 deficit. Padilla singled to left center, and Chase walked to get on base.
 
However, senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman cleared the bases with his three-run home run to left, scoring Marlow from third and senior outfielder Ryan Tierney from first for a score of 11-6. Tierney reached base on a fielding error.
 
The Rangers later faced a deficit of 12-6 in the sixth before Marlow's sacrifice fly to left was deep enough to allow Padilla to score from third to cut the margin to five, 12-7. Padilla led off the inning with a single to right.
 
Regis last cut into its run margin in the seventh, 12-8, when Zimmerman touched home from third on junior utility player Miguel Marquez's single to left. Zimmerman hit a single up the middle, and his run was the doubleheader closer's final one.
 
Colorado Mesa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on junior catcher Spencer Bramwell's single through the left side, which scored senior outfielder Tyler Parker from second. Parker also singled through the left side to open the game. The lead grew to 2-0 when McGeary, who walked, scored on an error from third.
 
Zimmerman cut the deficit in half in the second, 2-1, on a single through the left side. This allowed Owen, who singled to right field, to score from second.
 
CMU opened up its lead in the third, 5-1, on Rodgers' three-run home run to right center that scored McGeary from third and Stubbings from first. McGeary had an inning-opening single through the left side, and Stubbings singled to left.
 
The Mavericks ended the third with a 6-1 lead after junior infielder Caleb Farmer scored from third on a wild pitch. Farmer reached base on a bunt single to third.
 
Colorado Mesa opened its multi-run fourth with a solo home run to left by Turner, and this was followed by a Stubbings' single to left center to score McGeary from second. McGeary doubled to left center after Turner's home run, and it was McGeary's run that took CMU to an 8-1 lead.
 
Game Notes: Zimmerman posted a 3-for-4 result in the doubleheader closer, including his home run, to go along with a share of the team-high two runs scored and a share of the game-high four RBI. Freshman infielder Braxton Boyle contributed a 3-for-3 performance offensively. Padilla claimed a 2-for-4 showing to close the day, scoring a share of the team-high two runs and walking once. Marlow and Chase each capped their days with 1-for-3 outcomes with the bat on doubles. Chase also had a walk, and Marlow tabulated three RBI.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: RU falls to a 16-8 record overall and a 12-8 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. The Rangers next go on the road but stay local when they play a four-game series at No. 22 Metropolitan State University of Denver (25-7, 21-7 RMAC), which begins at The Regency Athletic Complex on Friday at 6 p.m.