GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — With their season on the line, Adams State baseball responded with resilience and firepower, using a four-run eighth inning to surge past UC-Colorado Springs, 6-4, in an elimination game at the RMAC Tournament on Thursday morning at The Diamond.
The Grizzlies, who entered the tournament as underdogs, refused to let their season end quietly. Tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Adams State exploded for four runs on five hits and never looked back, eliminating UCCS and advancing in the double-elimination bracket.
Freshman outfielder Josiah Hall ignited the offense early and often. He finished 3-for-5 on the day, starting with a double and belting a solo home run in the eighth inning.
After taking a 2-0 lead into the middle innings, UCCS kept Adams State off the scoreboard until the pivotal eighth. That's when the momentum shifted.
Hall, started off the top of the eighth with a solo bomb to left field to begin the rally. Senior, Phil Carter was hit by pitch to reach base and after a double hit by Christian Altamirano, Adams State turned to pinch-hitter Alex Hernandez, who came up with one of the biggest swings of the season — a two-run double to left-center to take the lead 5-2.
Shortstop Gunner Martinez lined an RBI single to end the inning at 6-2.
That offensive outburst backed up a stellar performance from right-hander Logan Martin, who tossed eight gritty innings. Martin scattered six hits, walked five, and struck out three while working through several jams to keep the Grizzlies within striking distance.
Martin earned the win — his first of the season — after escaping bases-loaded trouble in the fourth and seventh innings. He threw 123 pitches in what was arguably his best outing of the year.
Carter, who moved from DH to the mound in the ninth, allowed two runs but preserved the win. After a leadoff double he settled down to record two strikeouts and a game-ending groundout. He finished at two runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Adams State outhit UCCS 16-9 and played sharp defense behind Martin, overcoming two errors with strong plays from the infield. Altamirano contributed six putouts and two assists at first base despite a minor miscue, and Hall made several routine plays in left field.
The win improves Adams State's record to 18-34, while UCCS finishes its season at 24-25. The Grizzlies will play again tomorrow at 3 p.m., facing another elimination test as they continue their push through the RMAC bracket.
