Club baseball beat in Rocky Mountain Landslide
The Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams club baseball teams have duked it out for the Mid-America West for the last 10 years. However, on Saturday, it was all CSU.
The Buffs lost both games of a doubleheader to wrap up their 2026 Fall Ball season. Although these games are just exhibitions before the true season begins this spring, the Rams set the tone over the Buffs heading into 2027.
Game 1
The first inning at Scott Carpenter Park was telling for the rest of Game 1.
Colorado State hit around the lineup and scored four runs before CU got up to the plate. The top of the order got on base, and the bottom hit them in. Right fielder Mark Cline got the scoring started with an RBI walk, then designated hitter Brayan Perez tagged on more with a single that drove in a run.
The Buffs gave up five free bases between walks and hit by pitches, but were still able to put together a solid second frame. Relief pitcher Brayden Levy came in after Jackson Ehrlich couldn’t finish the first, and retired four of the six batters he faced. The only base hit he surrendered was a solo home run from CSU third baseman Landon Olds, which made it 5-0 Rams.
Eli Cruppi came in to pitch the third inning for CU and was off to a solid start but exited after getting hit by a liner off the bat. Although he didn’t make another appearance, reports from a family member say he’s okay.
Still without a Buffs run, the Rams piled on six more runs in the third inning off a pass-the-baton offense. Four different batters had RBI hits, and eight total reached base.
The back half of Colorado’s bullpen held the score for the fourth and fifth innings, but it was too little too late.
In the fifth inning, CU got a three-run homer from the nine-hole batter Alex Weston. Both clubs agreed to invoke the mercy rule after the inning, capping off an 11-3 Rams win.
Game 2
The second game was a far more competitive, close match that got out of hand late for Colorado.
Chase Ambhuel, who batted leadoff for the Buffs in Game 1, came in to start in Game 2. Although it wasn’t flawless, Ambhuel was very solid and struck out five in his two innings covered, while giving up two runs.
Colorado State’s starter, Parker Davis, had the best showing on the mound all afternoon, and traveled 4 ⅓ innings while holding the Buffs to two runs.
CU’s shortstop Finn Simones tied the game at three with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Two batters later, senior president Jud Stafford broke the tie with a single of his own to give Colorado its first lead of the day.
The Buffs took the lead and turned to run prevention in the top of the seventh to steal a Game 2 victory. Because Saturday was a doubleheader, two seven-inning games were set, so all the Buffs needed was three outs.
Upperclassman pitcher Victor Moreno came in for the save, but the Rams read him well. The top of CSU’s order, who gave the Buffs headaches all afternoon, came up first and got guys on base. Olds tied the game with one out, and infielder Liam Conkling broke the tie two batters later.
The Rams continued for more, coming around to score six in the top of the inning. The Buffs applied pressure in the bottom of the frame, scored one off a bases-loaded walk from Simones, but ultimately lost Game 2, 9-5.
The End of Fall
This series loss concluded Fall Ball for Colorado, which ended with a 4-4 record.
In their meetings against CSU and Metro State last weekend, the club got a good taste of what’s to come in conference play this spring.
The Buffs still accumulated two series wins under their belt, as they bested Colorado School of Mines and Metro State two games to one.
The club and its executive board have all winter to determine its best nine guys. A few players made their case, like newcomer Duke Medina at the plate and Ambhuel working both sides.
Although snow and cold weather are around the corner, once the green returns and flowers start blooming, baseball will return to Scott Carpenter Park.
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