ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Regis University Baseball team weathered two comeback attempts by Adams State University (Colo.) in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon, winning 7-6 and 12-11. The Rangers improve to 33-14 (23-6 RMAC), while the Grizzlies fall to 17-32 (13-18 RMAC).

GAME ONE

The Rangers would come out strong, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning as Conn singled, then scored on an Adam Paniagua sacrifice fly. Garrett Rede and Maxim Fullerton then scored on back-to-back RBI singles from Jack Moulin and Ethan Wood. The Grizzlies recouped one of those runs in the second with a lead off solo homer, but Paniagua did the same in the third to put RU back up, 4-1.

ASU scored on an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning, followed by two scoreless innings for both teams. Garrett Rede got the Rangers back on the board with a double in the sixth that drove in Peter Goldy and Nolan Johnson. Adams had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame to try to keep pace, but Moulin would give the Rangers a final run in the top of the seventh as he was hit by a pitch, then stole two bases, and scored on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the final inning, three singles loaded the bases for Grizzles, while a wild pitch, grounder, and single allowed three runs to score. But Noah McCandless struck out the final batter to hold onto the 7-6 win.

GAME NOTES

·         Redd and Paniagua both went 2-4 at the plate with two RBIs and one run scored

·         Conn went a perfect 3-3, scoring one run

·         Four other Rangers had a hit

·         Josiah Hall was 2-4 with two runs batted in for ASU

·         Nick Jacobs (5-1) earned with win with five strikeouts, while Noah McCandless earned a save with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. Connor Murray (2-7) recorded the loss

GAME TWO

Regis took the first lead of the second game as well, with a CJ Difiglia single batting in Wood and a George Smith sac fly scoring Goldy in the top of the second. However, ASU matched the two runs with a two-run homer. In the third, Adams took their first lead of the day with another two-run home run, and two RBI singles.

RU battled back in the fourth, led off by a Wood home run. Conn then doubled to bring home Difiglia, and Fullerton cleared the bases with a double that gave Regis the advantage again, 7-6. The Rangers added to their lead in the fifth as Goldy scored on a passed ball and Smith sacrificed to bat in Difiglia. In the Adams half of the fifth, a three-run homer tied the game again at 9-9.

The game would come down to a huge seventh inning. Conn singled, which batted in Goldy, and Rede's bunt brought in Nolan Johnson. Paniagua's single to left field brought in Rede for the Rangers' final run, leading by three. Adams scored on an RBI single and a passed ball, but with the winning run on first, two Rangers earned two put outs to secure the win.

GAME TWO

·         Conn led the offense with three hits and two RBIs

·         Fullerton batted in three runs, while Smith batted in two

·         Seven Rangers had at least one hit

·         Conn and Rede both stole one base

·         Three Grizzlies had multiple RBIs

·         Cam Bushnell (2-0) earned the win, while McCandless posted another save. Cesar Loma (2-9) recorded the loss

UP NEXT

The Rangers and Grizzles play their regular season finale on Saturday, May 3, first pitch at noon.