COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — It was a grueling Saturday at Mountain Lion Park for the No. 25 MSU Denver Roadrunners, who saw their record move to 9–5 after dropping both ends of a high-scoring doubleheader to UC-Colorado Springs. Despite massive offensive outbursts in both contests, the Roadrunners were unable to contain the Mountain Lion bats, ultimately losing the three-game series.
Game One: UCCS 20, MSU Denver 7
The Roadrunners jumped out to an early 2–0 lead in the top of the 1st inning after River Jackson led off with a single and later scored on a double by Lathen Buzard. Noah Wicks then drove in Buzard with a groundout to capitalize on the early momentum.
MSU Denver fought to keep pace through the middle frames, tying the game at 4–4 in the 4th when Brooks Rasmussen doubled and Jackson followed with an RBI triple.
The game slipped away in the bottom of the 5th, as UCCS exploded for eight runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer down the right-field line. Though Blake Wilson launched a two-run home run in the top of that same inning to keep the Roadrunners within striking distance, the Mountain Lion onslaught proved too much to overcome.
Pitching Decision: Brayden McCollough was credited with his first loss of the season (2–1), while UCCS's B. Ruckman moved to 2–0.
Standout Performances:
- River Jackson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
- Alek Martinez, Jared Swarbrick, and Brooks Rasmussen all turned in multi-hit efforts to lead the MSU Denver lineup.
Game Two: UCCS 17, MSU Denver 16
In a marathon second game, the Roadrunners showcased their resilience by nearly erasing a seven-run deficit in the final inning. MSU Denver's first major surge came in the top of the 3rd, where they plated eight runs to turn a 3–0 deficit into an 8–3 lead. The inning was highlighted by a three-run home run from Noah Wicks and back-to-back RBI doubles from Royce Vandine and Alek Martinez.
After UCCS reclaimed the lead and extended it to 17–10 by the end of the 6th, the Roadrunners launched a furious six-run rally in the 7th. With their backs against the wall, the team combined for six hits in the frame, including a two-run homer by Vandine and an RBI single by Rasmussen. MSU Denver brought the tying run to the plate but ultimately fell just one run short.
Pitching Decision: Carter Swan took the loss (1–1), while McDermott earned the win for UCCS (1–0).
Standout Performances:
- Noah Wicks and Royce Vandine were a formidable duo behind the plate, combining for 8 RBIs; Wicks went 2-for-5 with a walk, while Vandine went 2-for-4 and was hit by a pitch.
- Brooks Rasmussen led the hit parade with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in two runs.
- Brayden Oram stuffed the stat sheet, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and two walks while scoring three times.
- Marques Abulhosn reached base four times, contributing two RBIs and two runs, while Alek Martinez added three runs of his own.
