ALAMOSA, Colo. (March 17, 2017) – Adams State University properly began their 2017 home slate with a 9-5 win against the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).
The Grizzlies (7-12, 1-4 RMAC) posted 15 hits in the conference win to tie their single-game high for the season. Friday's meeting also served as the first-ever between the two teams as UCCS (10-10, 5-4 RMAC) is in the midst of their inaugural season.
The bats were alive early and often in the series opener as Adams State jumped to a 6-1 lead after four innings.
Thomaslee Mares brought in the game's first run with a RBI single to score
Michael Downs in the bottom of the first. UCCS answered with a Matt Bone RBI single in the top of the second to tie the game, 1-1.
The Grizzlies extended their lead with five unanswered runs to pull away, 6-1. During that span,
Tony Stanich,
Sawyer Morain, Mares, and
Marco Garmendia produced run-scoring hits.
The Mountain Lions cut their deficit to 6-4 with three runs in the fifth and made it 6-5 with another run in the eighth. During the eighth, the Grizzlies dodged giving up the lead thanks to a ground out double play with a pair of UCCS runners on.
The Grizzlies tacked on three insurance runs in their half of the eighth as
Dustin Kachel, Downs, and
Evan Weidner each knocked an RBI hit.
Mason Munford (S, 3) closed out the win as the senior entered the game in the top of the ninth.
Mares paced the offense, hitting 3-for-5 with two RBI, two doubles, and a run scored. Weidner hit 3-for-4 with two doubles, a RBI, and run scored. Kachel added a 2-for-5 performance at the plate with two RBI, a double, and a run scored. Stanich and
Nick Hill each chipped in two hits apiece.
Casey Weber (2-2) picked up the win in 7.1 innings of work. Weber struck out seven and allowed five runs off 10 hits.
Adam Molina spent time on the mound in the eighth and helped Adams State get out of the frame with a one run lead.
Adams State returns to the diamond for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12pm from the ASU Baseball Field.
For any future updates on ASU baseball, stay connected with
www.asugrizzlies.com.
