GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University Baseball team, seeded No. 2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2025 Baseball Championship Tournament, defeated No. 5 Adams State University (Colo.), 17-2 in their first-round game on Wednesday night. The Rangers improve to 35-14, while the Grizzlies fall to 17-34.

35 wins is a new program record for the Rangers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Adam Paniagua, who was named RMAC Player of the Year earlier today, had a double in the bottom of the first inning, but no runs would score. However, in the second inning Regis score the first run of the game, as Jack Moulin and CJ Difiglia were walked, setting up a two-out RBI single for George Smith. Adams had one hit in the top of the third, but the runner would be caught stealing, and the Rangers put together a huge inning.

Garrett Rede singled, followed by an RBI double for Paniagua, giving him the RMAC single-season record for RBIs with 97. After Peter Goldy and Ethan Wood were walked, Moulin was hit by a pitch, earning an RBI, and Difiglia doubled, clearing the bases and bringing the score to 6-0. They would continue that momentum into the fourth, as Paniagua homered, scoring three more runs. Moulin followed that with a single that drove in Maxim Fullerton, Difiglia's grounder batted in Goldy, and Clayton Conn's bunt brought home Wood.

Both teams managed baserunners in the fifth, but none reached home. The Grizzlies broke the shutout in the top of the sixth frame with a solo home run, but the Rangers recouped the run and more in the seventh, as Goldy batted in Rede, then Paniagua scored on a wild pitch.

RU retired three straight batters in the top of the eighth, and added to their lead to 17-1 in the bottom of the frame with a three-run home run by Rede. Daniel Strohm struck out two batters in the top of the ninth, but Adams would score an unearned run on a Regis error, bringing the final score to 17-2.

GAME NOTES

·         Paniagua led the Rangers offense going 4-5 at the plate, scoring three runs, and batting in four

·         Rede scored four runs on three hits and added three RBIs

·         Difiglia also batted in four runs

·         11 of the 12 Rangers with an at-bat recorded a hit

·         Aidan Brainard (5-1) earned the win, allowing just one run on three hits, striking out eight batters

UP NEXT

The Rangers will battle No. 4 MSU Denver on Thursday, May 8 at 7 pm.


Peter Goldy's catch would be featured on ESPN's SportsCenter.