DENVER, Colo. — The Regis University baseball team out-slugged its crosstown rival Colorado Christian University on Friday, launching two home runs and scoring 11 runs on 10 hits in an 11-8 victory over the Cougars to begin the final home stand of the regular season.
With the win, the Rangers (27-16 overall, 18-7 RMAC) have tied the longest winning streak in program history of 13 games straight, previously accomplished by the 2004 squad, while the loss dropped the Cougars to 11-30-1 overall and 7-18 in RMAC play.
"It's definitely hard to win that many games in a row and I was glad our guys were able to come away with a win (Friday). CCU hit very well today and to be able to limit them to eight runs despite the 15 hits was a great job by our pitching and defensive side of things," said Regis head coach,
Drew LaComb. "I was proud of our guys for finding a way. We probably need to play a little better tomorrow, but overally pretty happy with the performance."
HOW IT HAPPENED: Regis jumped on the Cougars early, tallying two runs in the second and hanging four runs in the third to capture control of the game at 6-0 heading to the fourth.
Senior third baseman
Colten Chase, who led all Rangers with four runs driven in, got the scoring started with a RBI triple to score junior outfielder
Levi Padilla. Chase came home to score two batters later on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior designated hitter
Cam Dalrymple.
Sophomore outfielder
Maxim Fullerton would kick off the four-run fourth with a line drive homer to right, tying him for the team lead with six home runs this spring; five of which have come during the Rangers' 13-game winning streak.
"Maxim has started to really put things together and he's staying through the ball, staying through the zone a lot better these last couple weeks," LaComb said. "He's doing what we thought he was capable of doing all year and he's really starting to hit his stride at the right time of the year."
Chase and Dalrymple each added sacrifice flies in the inning, and Regis tacked on an unearned run, to barrel out to a 6-0 advantage.
Colorado Christian would mount a comeback, scoring at least one run over the next six innings and cutting the Rangers' lead to three on two occasions — 8-5 in the sixth and again at 11-8 in the ninth — but the Rangers were able keep the Cougars at a jabbers' distance to hold on for the 11-8 final.
Sophomore right-hander
Mason Ashcraft (6-2) picked up the victory after 5.1 effective innings, striking out six, while junior left-hander
Ethan Sloan picked up his third save of 2023 with two strikeouts in his 1.1 of relief.
Offensively, the Rangers had four players finish with multi-hit games Friday, led by sophomore outfielder
CJ Difiglia who finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two driven in; highlighted by his first career home run as a Ranger in the fourth.
"CJ showed a lot of power in the fall, actually led us in home runs during the fall, so we knew it was only a matter of time for him," LaComb said. "He's putting great at-bats together so hopefully he'll be able to continue that and build off today."
Senior first baseman
Matt Marlow (2-for-4, 2R, 1 RBI) and Fullerton (2-for-4, 2R, RBI) would also add multi-hit performances.
UP NEXT: The Rangers will look to take control of the series against the Cougars, and potentially set the school record for longest win streak, when the two teams resume their four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Regis Baseball Field in Denver.
