Tigers Fall in Crazy Rubber Match

Onto the rubber match of the series, the Tigers would turn to an unfamiliar starter. Nikayha Castro would be the one called upon, and would turn in a serviceable start for the Tigers. Like games 1 and 2, Castro would toss a scoreless frame. The 2nd and 3rd innings would both be 1-2-3 innings, and head into the 4th at 0–0. In the fourth, Castro would leave a change up hanging, and be one he wishes he could get back, as the CU deposited over the left field wall to go up 1-0. The same thing would happen in the 6th, as they would connect on their second solo homer of the day to go up two. In the 7th, they would get their third on an error to move up 3. 

Into the 7th inning, the Tigers offense would start rolling. It started with the bottom half, as both Jacob VonThaden and Austin Vincent singled to left, turning the lineup over for Joshua Duarte. Duarte would promptly double to left, scoring the runner on 2nd, and giving Payton Rios two runners in scoring position, and only one gone. Rios would hit a sac-fly to put the Tigers within one, and score Vincent. 

Entering the 8th, it seemed like a whole new ballgame, and coach Randy Guite would turn to Chad Baker out of the 'pen. An infield single from the leadoff batter and a wild pitch gave CU a runner on second with no outs. Baker would then get a fly out and a strike out, to make it 2 out with a runner on third. An intentional walk to the 5-hole now put two runners on base. CU would cash in with a double to score both and regain a 3-run lead. They would then tack on two more after that to make it 7-2 heading into the bottom of the 8th. 

In the 8th, the Tigers would get two quick outs, before an error gave them a slight glimpse victory. The Tigers would plate two on an error, to make it 7-4. A hit by pitch turned the lineup over to Duarte, but this time CU would take the bat out of his hands, and load the bases, and take their chances with Rios. Fortunately for CU, the gamble would pay off, and leave it at 7-4. 

In the 9th, Ashton Deskins would throw up a zero, to keep it at a 3-run deficit, and keep the Tigers' hopes of winning within grasp. Leading off the inning would be Jarrett Chapman, and he would promptly lead it off with a single. After an out, Garret Thurman would pinch hit, and reach via an infield single to put the Tigers within reach. It seemed as if Hank Schineller was about to put the Tigers within a run when he doubled to center, but CU would nail the second runner at the plate, to make it 7-5. The Tigers' hopes would slightly diminish, after VonThaden lined out to deep center to end it. 

The Tigers now move to 6-6 in the conference, which is currently good enough for 4th. The Tigers head back on the road Tuesday, as they go to IU-Southeast for a singular mid-week game.