Baseball

By. Matthew Martinez

ALAMOSA, Colo- The Adams State Baseball team begins conference play at home with a four-game series.

Two weeks removed from a series sweep against UT Permian Basin, the Grizzlies (3-11) looked to increase their season high three-game win streak as fellow RMAC opponent Dixie State (10-4) came into town. The Trailblazers of Dixie State came into the contest having dropped two of three games against Colorado Mesa in their last series.

In the first game, RHP David Maldonado from Adams State got the start on the bump and held the visiting Trailblazers stagnant for the first four innings. A pair of back-to-back homeruns from outfielder Nico Nintze and first baseman Jared Gay  in the home half of the third inning put the Grizzlies out in front. However, that was Adams State’s only lead of the game as the bats from Dixie State came alive. The Grizzlies fell 15-6 as junior pitcher Dalton Carleo  was handed the loss in the opening game.

Games #2 and #3 were played as a Saturday double header with Senior Captain, Daniel Brennan and Junior Troy Gutbub getting the starts on the mound. After a solid first three innings from Brennan, he was replaced by Sophomore Connor Flynn, who saw his only relief appearance from the bullpen all series. The Trailblazers ran away with game in the middle innings as all 20 of their runs were scored in the 4th, 5th, and 6th.

Game #3 featured a more close game as a late rally from the Grizzlies fell short. With a combined 12 strikeouts from starter Troy Gutbub and Trent Hughes, the Trailblazers were held to only five runs in seven innings. After scoring a run in three consecutive innings, Adams State was down 5-3. That was all the Grizzlies could produce as they drop game #3.

The final game of the series was a full 9-inning game that was a one sided affair from the very top of the first. The Trailblazers scored a quick five runs to open the game after hitting two homeruns and never looked back. Totalling 28 hits as a team, Dixie State essentially could not get out against as Adams State gave up 28 runs. The only bright side was that Senior First baseman Jared Gay tallied three hits and brought in six of the nine runs produced by State.

The Grizzlies will be back in action as they travel to Lakewood, CO, to take on Colorado Christian in a four-game series set to begin on March 15th at 3pm.