Rangers Narrowly Miss Upset of Fifth Ranked Mesa State

Grand Junction, Colo.: Regis lost in a hearbreaker to fifth ranked Mesa State 17-16 in a non-conference contest this afternoon.  Regis pounded out 22 hits but Mesa State was able to squeeze one run home in the bottom of the eighth inning to break the tie and claim the one-run victory.

Regis (7-5) scored three runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the second.  However, Mesa State (8-2) scored 10 runs over the next two innings to take a 10-5 lead.  Regis scored three more runs in the fourth inning to close the lead to 10-8 on back-to-back homeruns by Aaron Salvucci and Jesus Arzaga.

Mesa State then responded with five of their own in the bottom of the fourth to take a 15-8 lead.  Regis wouldn't go quietly as they plated six runs in the sixth inning on five hits including a two-run single by Mike Benton and a two-run double by Patrick Farrell to close to within one run.

Regis tied the game in the seventh inning when J.T. Putt scored a run on a wild pitch and Curtis Hornaday scored on an error.  The Mavericks scored the winning run after back-to-back doubles plated one run.  Regis came to bat in the ninth and got runners on first and second with just one out, but were unable to score any as the Alex Haag hit into a game-ending double play.

Benton led Regis going 5-for-6 at the plate with two RBI.  Gerard Mohrmann was 4-for-6 also with two RBI.  Chris Steinbeck, Farrell and Putt each had three hits; Farrell led the Rangers driving in four runs and tallied three doubles to increase his RBI total to 23 on the young season.  Salvucci went 2-of-4 with his first homerun of the season and drove in three runs.

Kyle Spencer lost his first game of the season allowing just one earned run in two innings.  Mohrmann began the game pitching one hitless inning. 

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