Pueblo, Colorado — In game one of a four-game series against Colorado Pueblo, Adams State falls in a heartbreaking loss 7-6. The loss puts the Grizzlies at a record of 17-26(13-12 RMAC).
To start game one, the Grizzlies jumped out to a quick lead against the Pueblo starter, taking a 1-0 lead after the first inning when
Josh Parks hit a home run to right center, continuing his hot hitting. Pueblo responded with a home run of their own in the second inning, but after that, the Grizzlies added five more runs against the Pueblo starter before he was taken out in the sixth inning. The big hit for the Grizzlies' offense was
Josiah Hall's three-run home run to right center in the third inning, which put Adams State up 4-1. After Hall's home run, Parks added an RBI single, and
Christian Altamirano contributed another RBI single, giving the Grizzlies a 6-1 lead after the fifth inning. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, this was not enough, as Pueblo slowly chipped away, scoring three in the sixth, two in the seventh, and the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth, winning 7-6 over Adams.
The story of tonight's game was the Grizzlies' inability to make key plays late in the game. Committing two errors and missing several clutch opportunities to record outs allowed the Pueblo offense to gain momentum in the sixth and seventh innings, tying the game. With just a play here or there, the Grizzlies could have secured Friday night's game and taken game one of the four-game series.
On the mound for the Grizzlies was
Brian Walters, who had one of his best starts of the year against one of the toughest offenses he faced. Walters held the Pueblo offense down all night until some bad luck hit him in the fifth inning, where Pueblo scored three runs. Walters was exceptional, finishing with a line of 5 ⅔ innings, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned), two walks, one hit batter, and four strikeouts. Following Walters was
Phil Carter, who pitched the final 2 ⅓ innings. Carter also fell victim to some poor luck, surrendering six hits, only three of which were barrels. Unfortunately for Carter, he recorded the loss after giving up the walk-off hit in the ninth inning, bringing his season record to 4-5. Carter finished with a line of 2 ⅓ innings, six hits, three runs, two walks, and one strikeout.
Offensively for the Grizzlies, they were led by Parks, Hall, and Altamirano, who collectively accounted for seven of the Grizzlies' nine hits on the night. Parks finished two for five with a home run and two RBIs; Hall finished two for four with a home run, a double, a walk, and three RBIs; and Altamirano finished three for five with an RBI. Parks and Hall also scored four of the Grizzlies' runs, with both individuals crossing the plate twice on the night. Parks and Hall continued their hot hitting, with Parks recording his tenth home run of the year and his fifth in the last five games; Hall tied Coach
Mike Bathauer's single-season home run record with his fifteenth home run of the season. Both Parks and Hall will look to maintain their momentum and lead the Grizzlies to two wins on Saturday, as Adams State prepares for a doubleheader at Pueblo's home field.
Games two and three will be played today. Game one will be played at 1 PM MST, and game two will follow shortly after the conclusion of game one. Both games will be held in Pueblo, Colorado, at Rawlings Field, Pueblo's home field.
