DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Baseball team and Colorado State University-Pueblo engaged in an offensive onslaught on Wednesday afternoon, with RU winning 18-16. The Rangers improve to 9-8, while the Thunderwolves fall to 7-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUP set the tone of the game with a two-out solo home run in the top of the first inning, and started the second with three straight hits, including a double and RBI single. Pueblo then added a bases-loaded walk and a grand slam to go up, 7-0. Despite a pitching change, they kept the bats going, adding an RBI single and two-RBI double.
Regis responded in a big way in the bottom of the frame, leading off with a Steven Kirtides homer. An Ethan Ralph single, followed by a Mason Grube walk, set up Nicholai Arnold for two-score double to left field. He was then brought home by a Derrick Kraus sacrifice fly. Ayden Harrison, the reigning RMAC Player of the Week, kept the momentum going with a single, followed immediately by Park Romney's home run. After Dylan Perry singled, Kirtides launched his second homer of the inning, brining the score to 10-8. Two K's from Jacob Wright helped make quick work of the Pueblo side of the third, and Grube helped cut into the lead, scoring during a double play.
The Thunderwolves got hot again in the fourth, as with two outs, four hits and two errors brought in six more runs, while also leaving three runners on base. Kirtides and Derry recorded back-to-back sacrifice flies, while Grube homered brining home two more runs and bringing the score to 16-13.
In the fifth inning, Gio Casas struck out a pair of batters, while Perry's single scored Kraus to get another run back for RU. Neither team scored in the sixth for the fist time in the match, and the trend followed in the seventh. However, in the eighth inning, Kirtides was hit by a pitch and Ethan Ralph was walked, putting two on for a pinch-hitting Ethan Wood, who sent it over the right center fence for the 17-16 lead. Harrison batted in Jack Moulin on a single for an insurance run later in the inning, and the Rangers closed out the win in the ninth, 18-16.
"The biggest thing for us is getting the energy going in the dugout," said Grube. "Once we got the advantage there, we are really confident that we can win."
"After giving up that nine-spot, it was make or break, and we responded in a great way."
"Obviously, we are a young team," added Wood, "but these guys show up every day and put in the work, get after the grind. A ton of guys got a chance today, and it shows that we win as a team."
When asked about his go-ahead homerun, he said "It is the moment you dream of as a kid, and I'm blessed to be in that situation. Shout out to my teammates for getting into scoring position so I could get that opportunity."
"Now its time to get healthy, but keep the bats hot and energy high as we prepare for UCCS and RMAC play," concluded Grube.
GAME NOTES
· Kirtides went 3-3 at the plate, including two HR, scoring three runs and batting in four
· Arnold, Harrison, Romney, and Perry each added multiple hits as well
· Six Rangers had multiple RBIs
· Grube and Ralph both scored three runs as well
· Lance Mazur (W, 1-0) earned the win, striking out the lone batter he faced
· Nathan Ling recorded his second save of the season
· Casas struck out seven batters in 3.2 IP
UP NEXT
The Rangers have a single game at home against UCCS on Tuesday, March 3 at 2 pm.
