COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In a tightly contested non-conference matchup at Mountain Lion Park, the University of Jamestown baseball team fell just short in 4-3 and 12-11 losses to UC-Colorado Springs on Saturday.
In game one, the Mountain Lions (5-3) jumped out to an early lead and managed to hold off a late-inning surge by the Jimmies (0-2). Despite out-hitting UCCS in the final two frames, Jamestown could not overcome the early deficit in a game that lasted just over two hours.
UCCS broke a scoreless tie in the second inning, plating two runs without a hit in the frame. The Mountain Lions capitalized on three walks by Jamestown starter
Karver Partlow, including a bases-loaded walk to Robert Vandegrif and a sacrifice fly by Quinn Medin.
The home team added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Cayden Gonzalez drove in a run with an infield fly in the fifth, and Tyler Genrich scored on a Jamestown error in the sixth after leading off the inning with a triple.
Jamestown found its rhythm in the sixth inning.
Jett Nelson sparked the offense with a lead-off walk, followed by an RBI triple from
Adrian Warcken.
Mason Shea then grounded out to second, allowing Warcken to cross the plate and cut the lead to 3-2.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh, pinch-hitter
Mathieu Morin launched a solo home run to right field to bring the Jimmies within one. However, UCCS reliever James Harbison retired the next three batters to secure the save.
Warcken finished 2-for-4 for UJ.
Trayson Kostial and
Melvin Maldonado each had a double.
Partlow (0-1) took the loss for the Jimmies, yielding two earned runs on three hits while striking out two across four innings of work.
Ben Bohlmann provided two innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned).
For the Mountain Lions, Gerrit Erickson earned the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Harbison allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Game two was a high-scoring marathon that saw the lead change hands in nearly every frame. Despite a powerful 15-hit performance from the Jimmies, the Mountain Lions rallied for nine runs in the final two innings to secure the victory.
The Jimmie bats came alive early and often, launching three home runs in the contest.
Mason Shea set the tone in the first inning with a two-run blast. In the third,
Trayson Kostial
and
Melvin Maldonado hit back-to-back solo home runs to left field, providing a 4-3 lead at the time.
Jamestown's biggest surge came in the fifth inning, where they plated five runs. The rally was highlighted by a bases-loaded, three-run double from pinch-hitter
Ben Swennumson, which extended the lead to 9-3.
The Mountain Lions (6-3) refused to go quietly, exploding for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 9-9. The damage was largely done by Trevor Dale, who crushed a grand slam to left field.
The Jimmies appeared to regain control in the top of the seventh. Maldonado drove in a run with a single, followed by an RBI double from
Jett Nelson to put the Jimmies ahead 11-9.
However, UCCS answered in the bottom half. Nolan Oliver tied the game with a two-run home run, and Benjamin Pailes delivered the final blow with an RBI single to end the contest.
Nelson was a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Maldonado recorded a 3-for-5 performance and Shea ended 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Jimmies utilized six different pitchers in the effort.
Nic Lewandowski started the game, allowing three runs over 2 2/3 innings.
Ben Bohlmann (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering three runs in the final frame. For UCCS, Mason Hartle (3-0) earned the win after getting the final two outs in the seventh inning.
The teams conclude their weekend series on Sunday with a single nine-inning game set for 12 p.m. Central
