Roadrunners come from behind for victory

Written by Robert Dran
(rdran@mscd.edu)
Photo by Jonathan Ingraham
(jingrah1@mscd.edu)

Metro baseball went 3-for-4 in a four-game set against Colorado Christian University March 6-8 in Parker. Though Metro came out on top, the team was glad to get three wins, as all four games had a margin of victory of three runs or less.

In the first game, Metro overcame six errors and a nine-run seventh inning to get the win after 11 innings. Designated hitter Brett Bowman followed up his two-out rally starting hit against Mesa with another two-out single that helped Metro grab a come-from-behind win. Catcher Tyree Abshire provided a key two-run home run to seal Metro’s third victory of the series.

“I wish we could have had a sweep,” head coach Jerry Schemmel said. “But all the games were close. CCU is a much improved team.”

First baseman Jordan Stouffer was a little bit more disappointed in the team’s attitude toward CCU.

“It was our toughest weekend,” Stouffer said. “The problem with a team like CCU is that it’s easy to take them lightly, and we took them too lightly. They battled hard.”

Stouffer did hit another home run during the weekend, which was his ninth home run this season. Both Schemmel and Stouffer agreed the team’s strength was their offense.

“We were kind of unlucky this weekend as we kept hitting the ball hard, but half the time it seemed that it went directly to the other team,” Stouffer said. “(Next week against New Mexico) Highlands — they will attack the strike zone, which is exciting for me. I don’t think a pitcher can attack the strike zone and get too many balls past us.”

Metro’s defense, while improving throughout the season since the first games against Regis, took a step back when they gave up six errors in the first game. Metro was able to calm down the defense and only allowed one error for the rest of the game.

“There were still plays that we should have made that we didn’t, but they counted as hits,” left fielder Marcel Dominguez said of the final three games.

Schemmel expressed confidence in his team’s defense, but said the team could practice more in the infield.

“The field was particularly rough with AstroTurf and tough sand on the infield,” Stouffer said. “It wasn’t very well-groomed either, but excuses aside we are spoiled on our practice field.”

Schemmel’s main concern heading into next week against New Mexico Highlands University is pitching. Highlands is known for having a potent offense.\”Our starting pitching needs to be more consistent. Outside of (Highland’s pitcher) Joel Lockhart we need to find a way to be more consistent,” Schemmel said.

Metro’s defense and pitching will be a concern against Highlands as the team beat CCU in a rout 35-5 earlier in the season. The team, as a whole, claimed not to take Highlands lightly.

“With Highlands and their offense, we need to pitch well and play good defense or we will get swept,” Dominguez said. “We can’t play down to their level like we did against CCU.”

Metro will play a four-game set against New Mexico University Highlands March 13-15 at Auraria Field.