DENVER – Building off of the momentum of its series-closing win over UC-Colorado Springs from the day before, the Regis University baseball team fought back from a five-run deficit to defeat New Mexico Highlands, 6-5, at Regis Baseball Field on Thursday.
 
How It Happened: Deadlocked in a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, senior outfielder Coby Zimmerman smacked a solo home run to left center to give the Rangers their only lead of the game, 6-5, which would prove to be the final score.
 
The Cowboys jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first on junior utility player Jared Brown's RBI single to right field that scored junior outfielder Estevan De La O from third as an unearned run.
 
New Mexico Highlands' lead quadrupled to 4-0 on De La O's three-run home run to right in the second, scoring junior infielder Ashton Roy from third and senior outfielder/designated hitter Joe Kuhn from second. Roy singled to right, and Kuhn walked.
 
Kuhn would cross home plate from third for NMHU's final run of the game in the fourth when senior infielder/right-handed pitcher Gaylan Young hit an RBI single to third to give the Cowboys a considerable 5-0 lead. An inning-opening single to center was how Kuhn reached first.
 
Regis's comeback started to take form in the bottom half of the fourth when sophomore infielder Matt Marlow knocked a solo home run to right center for a 5-1 deficit.
 
The run margin was cut to three in the fourth, 5-2, on senior infielder Brevin Owen's RBI single to right to bring home senior outfielder Kyle Koontz from third. Koontz reached first upon being hit by a pitch.
 
RU later trimmed the deficit in the fourth to a run, 5-4, on senior catcher JT Stanley's two-RBI single up the middle that brought home Zimmerman from third and Owen from second. Zimmerman singled to right center, and Owen singled to right.
 
The Rangers finally tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth when Koontz sent an RBI sacrifice fly to right that allowed redshirt sophomore infielder Colten Chase enough time to tag from third and run home. Chase walked three at-bats earlier and stole second.
 
Game Notes: Zimmerman recorded a 3-for-4 performance, including the eventual game-winning home run, scored two runs, and had one RBI off the home run. Marlow and Owen both had 2-for-4 outcomes at the plate with each scoring a run and contributing an RBI. Owen had a double, and Marlow registered both the aforementioned home run and a double. Chase posted a 2-for-4 result with the bat, scored one run, drew one walk, and stole a base. The walk and the stolen base gave Chase a share of the game high in both of those statistics. Stanley also claimed a 2-for-4 effort and had a team-high two RBI. Freshman infielder Braxton Boyle tabulated a 2-for-5 performance. Koontz added a run and an RBI in the win. Junior pitcher Justin Kleinsorge threw 7.0 innings on the mound in which he struck out seven while surrendering five runs (four earned), eight hits, and four walks.
 
Following the game, multiple graduating students on the baseball team were recognized with a graduation ceremony.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: Regis starts its final 2021 regular-season series by improving to a 19-16 record overall and a 15-16 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. RU continues its series against New Mexico Highlands (12-23, 10-21 RMAC) with a doubleheader in which the opener will start at noon, and the closer will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Both contests will be seven innings.