Feb. 29, 2008

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Metro State exploded for 30 runs and 27 hits in two games as the Roadrunners swept Colorado Christian, 14-8 and 16-6, in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader, Friday afternoon at Auraria Field.

The Roadrunners scored in 10 of 14 innings on the day, including six out of eight innings in the first game. Jake Palmer went 4-for-7 with six RBI on the day, including 2-for-5 with four RBI in the opener.

"We were on the barrel a lot today offensively," said Roadrunner head coach Bobby Pierce. "Our baserunners were aggressive, and we put the pressure on them with our speed and athleticism. We made big innings even bigger."

In the first game, Colorado Christian held a 4-3 lead after two innings, thanks in part to four Metro State errors, but the Roadrunners rallied with 11 runs over the next four innings. Metro State took the lead with two runs in the third as catcher Brett Bowman stroked a two-run double. After Colorado Christian tied it up in the top of the fourth on a home run by Colby Geer, the Roadrunners answered with two more in the fourth and three more in the fifth. In the fifth, Metro State loaded the bases with nobody out and after a sacrifice fly by Palmer, Josh Marner cleared the bases with a double.

The Roadrunners left 12 runners on base and scored all of their runs in the first six innings. Steven Green earned his fourth win of the season after giving up four hits and five runs, although just one earned, in five innings.

Reece Gorman had two hits and three RBI, while Palmer had four RBI for Metro State. Colorado Christian was led by two hits and two RBI by Geer.

In the nightcap, Metro State scored five runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by Palmer, as nine men went to the plate. However, the Cougars answered with four runs in the top of the second as Brandon Adams had a two-run single and Chad Meske added a two-run double.

The Roadrunners came right back, though, with four more in the bottom of the second, then added two in the fourth and five in the fifth to take a 16-4 lead. The Cougars got two in the top of the seventh as Chad Barnhill greeted Roadrunner reliever Peter Klingsmith with a leadoff home run and Chris Guyer added an RBI single, but Metro State closed it out.

Gorman had three hits, while Dakota Nahm was 3-for-3 with three RBI for Metro State. Adams had two RBI, while Guyer had three hits for CCU. Armando Casas earned his third win of the season, giving up six hits and four earned runs in six innings, while striking out five for the Roadrunners.

"Our pitchers weren't necessarily on their "A" game," said Pierce. "However, they were competitive and made a pitch when they needed to."

With the sweep, Metro State improves to 9-2 overall, 2-0 in the RMAC, while Colorado Christian falls to 7-5 overall, 0-2 in the RMAC. These two teams play another doubleheader Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.