ALAMOSA, Colo. – Adams State Baseball was back in action on Saturday, for games two and three of the four game series against conference foe, Dixie State University.
 
Game one was a high scoring affair between the Grizzlies (3-14, 0-3 RMAC) and the Trailblazers (13-4, 3-0 RMAC). The scoring happened in bunches as both teams scored all their runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Dixie State scored five, nine, and six runs in each of the three innings while the Grizzlies responded with two, two, and six respectively. That was all the scoring the Grizzlies got as the game ended with a final score of 20-10 in favor of the Trailblazers.
 
The game started as a pitcher's duel, with Daniel Brennan of Adams State starting the game strong, only allowing one hit in the first three innings. Jayden Murray of Dixie State was throwing just as effectively, with only two hits allowed in the first three innings.
 
The fourth inning saw the both offenses come alive as Dixie State brought five runs across on two home runs, a three run homerun by Cade Spurlin, to break the scoreless tie, Jake Engel increased the lead two batters later with a two run homerun of his own. After the second homerun of the inning, Brennan was taken out of the game due to tightness in his right arm. Connor Flynn came to into the game in relief and got out of the inning without allowing any more runs.
 
Orlando Romero came to bat in the bottom of the fourth with Jared Gay on base and blasted a homerun down the left field line getting the first two runs on the board for the Grizzlies. Those were all the runs that Adams State scored and at the end of the fourth, the Trailblazers led, 5-2.
 
The floodgates opened in the top of the fifth as the Trailblazers scored nine runs in the inning off only six hits. Tyson Fisher started the scoring with a RBI single, Cade Spurlin then tripled down the left field line bringing in the second run. Spurlin then scored on batter later as Kaid Urban hit a double down the right field line. Braxton Ipson drove in two more runs with a double to left field.  Tyson Fisher in his second at bat of the inning brought in two more runs on a triple to right field, bringing his RBI total to three in the same inning.
 
The Grizzlies responded with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Logan Bistrup doubled to right field to bring Nico Nintze and Erik Hildebrandt in to bring the score to 14-4 in the fifth inning.
 
The sixth inning saw more of the same for the Trailblazers as they continued to tee off on Adams States pitchers. Six more runners came across to score for the Trailblazers, highlighted by a two RBI double by Bryce Feist and a Joe Raymond RBI single.
 
Down by 16 runs the Grizzlies needed to make something happen in the sixth inning if they wanted any chance to make a comeback. Dakota Solis started the scoring off with a RBI double down the left field line, bringing Patrick Huffaker across to score.  Erik Hildebrandt kept the scoring going by smoking a single up the middle to bring in Nathan Hield and Josh Billingham. Nico Nintze up next pulled a single to right field to score Noah Befus, Hildebrandt then scored on a single by Jared Gay. Paul Giglio drove in the last run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. The Grizzlies were able to bring across six runs in the inning, cutting the lead to 20-10 for the Trailblazers.
 
That is where the score stayed as the seventh inning came and went without anyone more offense for either team and the Trailblazers secured the 20-10 victory over Adams State.
 
On offense, the team was led by Erik Hildebrandt who had three hits, two RBI, and scored two runs as well. Orlando Romero had two hits including a two run homerun. Logan Bistrup joined in the offensive day too as he had two hits and two RBI as well.
 
Daniel Brennan pitched 3.0 innings with two strikeouts and only allowed five hits before leaving because of an injury. He also fell to 0-3 on the year with the loss. Erik Hildebrandt also threw a scoreless inning in relief for the Grizzlies.
 
The offensive onslaught for the Trailblazers was led by Tyson Fisher who had three hits, three RBI, and three runs scored, Cade Spurlin also had a nice day with four RBI off of two hits. Braxton Ipson, Bryce Feist, Jake Engel, and Tyler Hollow all had two RBI for the Trailblazers as well.
 
Jayden Murray threw 5.0 innings for Dixie State, tallying 10 strikeouts and only allowing two earned runs in the process. He moved to (4-1) on the season with the win. 
 

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The second game of the double header resulted in a much more traditional baseball score as Dixie got out to an early lead by scoring two runs in both the second and third innings. The Grizzlies answered back as they scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but were never quite able to overtake the Trailblazers after they scored once in the fifth to bring the score to 5-3 which is where it stayed
 
The Trailblazers started the scoring in the top of the second as the first run scored on a wild pitch, which was followed up by Lane Pritchard doubling to center field to drive in the second run of the inning.
 
The scoring continued for Dixie State in the third as Cade Spurlin doubled to center field to drive in the third run of the game. After Adams got two outs in the inning, Jake Brown also doubled to center field, driving in Spurlin and increasing the lead to four.
 
Adams State got on the board in the bottom of the fourth thanks to another Dakota Solis double, this time to right center and driving in Jared Gay for the first Grizzlies run of the game.
 
Braxton Ipson brought home the fifth run of the game for Dixie State as he drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Spurlin and increase the lead to 5-1.
 
Nico Nintze singled in the bottom of the fifth, bringing Erik Hildebrandt to the plate and cutting the lead of the Trailblazers down to three runs.
 
The final run of the game for the Grizzlies came courtesy of a fielding error by the third baseman off the bat of Patrick Huffaker brining Solis across to score and cut the lead to two runs.
 
That was as close as the game got as similar to the first game the seventh inning went by quietly to end the game, with the Trailblazers taking the 5-3 victory over Adams State.
 
Erik Hildebrandt continued his day with two more hits in game two along with another run scored. Dakota Solis also had two hits and a RBI and Nico Nintze continued his great season with another RBI.
 
Troy Gutbub and Trent Hughes were the only two pitchers used for the Grizzlies, with Gutbub throwing 4.0 innings and getting six strikeouts and Hughes being on the mound for the last 3.0 innings, throwing beautifully in relief with six strikeouts, and only one hit while keeping Dixie State scoreless. He was also very animated after coming up with clutch strikeouts in the sixth and seventh innings. Gutbub was dealt the loss and moved to 1-2 on the season.
 
Lane Pritchard was the only Trailblazer to have more than one hit as he led the team with two, he also had an RBI. Cade Spurlin continued his solid weekend with one RBI and two runs scored.
 
Jack Gonzales got the win moving to 3-0 on the year, throwing 4.2 innings and getting five strikeouts. Brayden Bonner recorded the save throwing 1.0 innings in relief with two strikeouts.
 
The Grizzlies are back in action on Sunday March 10, as they take on the Trailblazers in the final game of the series. First pitch is at 12 p.m. at the Adams State Baseball Field.