Rangers Finish Regular Season Dropping Two to Nebraska-Kearney; Earn Six Seed in Next Week's RMAC Tournament

Kearney, Neb.: The Ranger baseball team did not want to head into postseason by losing their last two games of the regular season but that is exactly what happened.  The first game went extra innings with the Lopers winning 10-9 and taking the nightcap 11-8.

Regis (17-25, 11-22 RMAC) who will be the sixth seed in next weeks RMAC Tournament in Kearney, trailed 8-3 going into the ninth frame.  Regis took advantage of two errors by Nebraska-Kearney (34-16, 20-12 RMAC) in that inning while collecting five hits and scoring five runs to tie the game at eight.

Pinch hitter Aaron Salvucci supplied the tying run by singling in freshman Tim Lewis.  Junior Bryant Asnicar shut down the Lopers in the bottom half and they were headed for extra innings.

Senior J.T. Putt who hit four homeruns over the weekend including two in this game, led off the 10th inning with a solo blast to put Regis up one.  UNK tied the game when the first batter Andrew Haake also hit a leadoff homerun.  Luke Valerius then doubled to put the winning run at second with no outs.

Pinch runner Nick Arapkiles moved to third when after an intentional walk Ben Townsend laid down a bunt.  Arapkiles and the Lopers got a gift when an Asnicar pitch ended up in the dirt and got away from Regis catcher Tim Lewis allowing Arapkiles to score for the game-winning run.

Putt went 3-for-5 at the plate with two solo homeruns and two RBIs.  Senior Max Regalado had three hits in six at bats, while fellow senior Jesus Arzaga collected two more hits.

Sophomore Steve Falconi scattered six hits in 6 1/3 innings allowing four runs and striking out four.  Asnicar was saddled with the loss going 2 1/3 innings allowing two earned runs, striking out two.

Click here for game 1 boxscore.

Two more errors by UNK allowed Regis to jump out early in the second game with five runs in the first inning.  Nebraska-Kearney scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning but Regis was able to stretch the lead to three with two runs in the second inning.

Unfortunately, the Rangers would only score one more run the rest of the way while the Lopers scored five in the sixth to take the lead for good on their way to an 11-8 victory.

Senior Gerard Mohrmann went 3-for-4, while Putt and sophomore Alex Haag went 2-for-4 and 2-for-3 respectively.  Putt had a team-high three RBIs, while Haag had two.

Nebraska-Kearney took advantage of nine walks issued by the five Ranger pitchers.  Sophomore Tyler Landwehr received the loss allowing three runs.  Starter Gerard Mohrmann was chased after just 1/3 of an inning allowing four runs and three hits.

Regis will take on #1 seed New Mexico Highlands next Wednesday, May 5th at the RMAC Tournament in Kearney, Neb. with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. central time.

Click here for game 2 boxscore.