March 9, 2008

Baseball Loses Three at Regis

Rangers Score 37 Runs in Three Victories

     Kearney, Neb. – The Regis University baseball team rallied from a 6-0 deficit to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 12-6, Sunday afternoon in Denver.

      After a 16-1 victory Friday night, the Lopers (7-11, 3-5 RMAC) dropped the next three games in the series to the Rangers (9-6, 5-2 RMAC). On Saturday, the home team won by scores of 12-9 and 13-6.

      So far this year, UNK has given up 10 or more runs in a game 10 times; the Lopers are 1-9 in those contests. 

      Today, the Lopers scored five in the second and one more in the second to build a seemingly comfortable lead. Over the first two innings, Regis walked six UNK batters, hit another and threw two wild pitches.

      However, relief pitcher Anthony Musielak came in for Regis and allowed just three hits and no runs over the final six innings. He also fanned five and walked only one Loper.

      Regis came back thanks to a three run third, a four run fourth and a three run sixth.  Leadoff hitter Chris Steinbeck (4 for 5, three runs, three RBI) had a two run double in the fourth with Max Regalado having a two run double in the seventh.

      Against three UNK pitchers, the Rangers pounded out 19 hits, including five doubles. The Loper offense mustered just six hits from six different players with Blair junior Kyle Smith scoring twice.

      On Saturday, Regis used the long ball to built early leads and sweep the double header. The Rangers led game one 9-0 after three innings and had a 11-3 advantage after three innings of game two.

      Ten of these 20 runs came on the strength of four homers; two, two run shots and two, three run dingers.

      The Lopers did make the first game interesting by scoring four times in the sixth and seventh innings. Senior Trey Howell (Antonito, Colo.) had a two run double in the sixth with junior Nate Swearer (Lincoln) belting a three run homer in the seventh.

      Redshirt freshman Matt Boganowski (Papillion-LaVista) had another strong effort on the hill, allowing just one earned run in four innings of relief work.

      In the late game, Swearer (2 for 4, two RBI) was one of five Lopers to have two hits. The Lopers actually out hit the Rangers, 13-10, but Regis took advantage of eight walks to win by seven.

      UNK hosts Wayne State Wednesday, starting at 3:00 p.m., Colorado Mines visits for four RMAC games next weekend.