DENVER, Colo. — The Regis University baseball team opened up the final series of the regular season on Friday, dropping a 17-11 slugfest against Metropolitan State University of Denver at the Regis Baseball Field.

Regis (24-22-1 overall, 17-12 RMAC) hung 11 runs on 16 hits Friday, but ran into a bandsaw of a Roadrunners offense (28-15 overall, 17-8 RMAC) that produced 17 runs on 21 hits; 16 of which went for extra bases.

"You have to five MSU Denver a lot of credit, they hit the ball extremely well (Friday). They got on time for a lot of different pitches," said Regis head baseball coach, Drew LaComb. "We just need to pitch a little better tomorrow and move on. We'll take the positives from today and be ready to go for the rest of the series."

HOW IT HAPPENED: The two teams traded the lead through the game's first two innings, with the Rangers briefly owning a 2-1 lead at the end of the first courtesy of a RBI single by senior outfielder Brevin Owen and RBI groundout by junior first baseman Matt Marlow.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, the Roadrunners were able to build a cushion with a five-run second inning.  Regis had the lead trimmed to 6-3 on a RBI single from junior third baseman Colten Chase, but MSU Denver's lineup was relentless as it tacked on two runs in the fourth, a run in the sixth, five runs in the seventh, and three runs in the eighth to keep the Rangers at bay.

Regis was able to conclude the afternoon with some momentum, though, as Regis scored in each of the final three innings, including a five-run ninth inning highlighted by a pinch-hit, two-run double off the bat of redshirt freshman Joey Cicini.

Sophomore catcher Reagan Guthrie added three hits, including a two-run double, while freshman shortstop Zach Daudet returned to the lineup from a broken nose to go 3-for-3 with a run scored and two walks in his first game since April 16.

"Zach is a good player and competitive kid. We felt confident he wasn't going to ski a beat at all and he was itching to get back on the field," LaComb said of Daudet. "He had a good day and produced a lot of great at-bats."

Sophomore outfielder Levi Padilla was the third Ranger to produce a multi-hit game Friday, finishing 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored atop the Regis lineup card.

UP NEXT: Regis and MSU Denver will play Game Two and Game Three of the series on Saturday as part of a seven-inning doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Regis Baseball Field in Denver.

"We're going to need to be a little more competitive overall (Saturday). We have to come ready to go; 16 hits and 11 runs is certainly not bad, but we need to find ways to score more runs than (MSU Denver)," LaComb said. "I think Brady and Porter are going to give us some good starts tomorrow and I think tomorrow will be a better day for us."