ALAMOSA, Colo. (March 18, 2017) – Adams State University will enter Sunday with a chance to win their four-game series against the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) after a doubleheader split on Saturday.

The Grizzlies (8-13, 2-5 RMAC) dropped game one, 12-4, but responded with a 5-4 walk-off win in game two. Adams State currently holds a 2-1 series lead over the Mountain Lions (11-11, 6-5 RMAC) thanks to a 9-5 Friday win.

The series finale with UCCS begins Sunday at 12pm.

Game One (L, 12-4)
The first game of the twin-bill did not go as planned for starting pitcher Daniel Brennan (0-2) who allowed six runs off five hits in his 1.1 innings on the mound. The UCCS offense scored early, and often, with a three-run first, second, and fourth inning. The Mountain Lions added a two-run fifth and their final run of the game in the seventh.

The Grizzlies answered with a run in the bottom of the first thanks to a Thomaslee Mares RBI single to score Dustin Kachel but ASU could not match UCCS' production. The Grizzlies cut their deficit to 9-3 with two runs in the fourth. Singles by Evan Weidner and Marco Garmendia set the stage for a Dylan April RBI ground out and a Ryne Niemi RBI single. Michael Downs scored ASU's final run of the game an inning later off a Weidner RBI single to right field.

Weidner finished game one hitting 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.  After Brennan's early exit Ryan Ferguson, Brett Aker, and Ty Gavin came on in relief to close out the game.

Game Two (W, 5-4)
A dramatic walk-off hit in the seventh concluded Saturday's doubleheader as Niemi's bases loaded RBI single scored Weidner to give ASU a 5-4 win.

Trailing 3-0, the Grizzlies knotted the game with a three-run fourth inning. Niemi helped push the first ASU run across home plate with a two out, bases loaded RBI sacrifice fly. Grant Templin followed with a two RBI double into right field to score Tony Stanich and Garmendia.

The game remained tied until the top of the sixth as UCCS brought in a run to take a 4-3 lead. The lead was short-lived as Derek Denovellis' pinch hit RBI single brought Erik Hildebrandt in from third in the bottom half of the inning. Hildebrandt entered the game as a pinch runner for Stanich who reached base with a double earlier in the frame.

Starting pitcher Josh Keaton (3-3) kept the game tied at 4-4 in the top of the seventh with three ground outs. Keaton battled through his complete game outing to the tune of 108 net pitches.

The bottom of the seventh began with a Downs strikeout but the senior reached first thanks to throwing error by the UCCS catcher on the putout attempt. Weidner followed with an intentional walk as Mares' sacrifice bunt moved both Downs and Weidner into scoring position with one out. A Garmendia intentional walk followed to set the stage for Hildebrandt with the bases loaded. Hildebrandt's at-bat resulted in a fielder's choice as Downs was thrown out at home. Niemi then entered the batter's box and lifted a ball into right field to score Weidner and end the game with a 5-4 win.

In the walk-off win, Niemi went 2-for-4 with two RBI with Templin going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Weidner went 0-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored.

In his first complete game win of the season, Keaton struck out eight with two walks. The senior allowed four runs off nine hits while forcing 11 groundouts.

For any future updates on ASU baseball, stay connected with www.asugrizzlies.com.