Red Storm can’t complete comeback in series opener

Storm drop second consecutive one-run decision

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Allowing five runs in the opening inning to a nationally ranked team during their season debut is normally a recipe for disaster. Friday afternoon at Suplizio Field, the Dixie State baseball team shook off a shaky first frame, completed a comeback to tie the game, but fell 9-7 to Colorado Mesa in the first of a four-game series.

Dixie State out hit the 16^th ranked Mavs, 14-12, but two runs in the home half of the sixth inning proved critical. The Red Storm fell to 0-4 on the year while CMU opened its season with the win.

A switch to the top of the lineup paid dividends for Drew McLaughlin (Scottsdale, AZ). The redshirt freshman had four hits, scored twice and knocked home two runs. Tyler Blair (Henderson, NV) hitting cleanup, Donald Glover (Las Vegas, NV) from the six spot and Ty Johnson (Thousand Oaks, CA) hitting eighth each two hits. Kevin Kline (Las Vegas, NV) returned to form with two RBI.

The Storm spotted Colorado Mesa with five runs on six hits in the first off Kort Christoffersen (Ogden, UT), making his second start of the year. A response came in the next half inning. McLaughlin cued a single to center field with the bases loaded accounting for his two runs batted in. Kris Kaplan (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron Memorial) cut the CMU lead to 5-3 with a sacrifice fly in the third, scoring Mike Umscheid (Beaverton, OR/Sunset).

CMU pushed the lead to 7-3 with two runs in the third before the Storm matched the output in the fourth. Three singles loaded the bases. Kline reached on an infield error to plate the first run and Blair singled for run number two.

Sac flies by Johnson in the fifth inning and Kline in the sixth evened the score at 7-7.

Christoffersen allowed the go-ahead runs on a pair of sacrifice flies in the CMU sixth.

DSU led off the eighth with a pair of walks. Kline plated a two-out run with a single to left, but McLaughlin was gunned down at third trying to advance into scoring position.

A one-out rally in the ninth was stymied in the ninth when Glover grounded into a game ending double play.

Ryan Reno earned the win for the Mavs in relief and Garrett Carpenter notched the save.

For Dixie State, Cody Clark (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron Memorial) and Mark Marinch (Las Vegas, NV/Palo Verde) combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

Games two and three are scheduled for Saturday, beginning at noon.

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