Back in action at the Eckerd University tournament Saturday, Colorado Christian Softball looked solid. On the mound, at the plate, and in the field, CCU's Cougars put together strong inning after strong inning. Though they trailed for one and a half innings, the Christian squad picked up a split – losing 5-3 to Florida Southern before knocking off Lynn with an impressive 3-1 showing.
CCU opened the day against FSC, starting things off with an impressive defensive effort anchored by freshman pitcher
Tana Feiner. A 0-0 score changed in the third, when a Jess Romine double to right center – the first of two she would have Saturday – scored
Stephanie Tatham from first. Romine would score on a steal to close out the inning, putting Christian up 2-0.
Feiner held the Mocs off the board through two more innings, but a string of hits and nifty running got FSC their first lead of the game. Down one in the bottom of six, the Cougars answered with their first home run of the season – a
Kristina Billante bomb over the center field fence.
Extra innings were certain after a scoreless seventh frame, but unfortunately Florida Southern would be the only team to score. A CCU error helped FSC earn the advantage.
Feiner wrapped the game with her first loss of the season, but not before tossing three Ks.
Despite the loss – or maybe because of it – the blue and gold were dialed in and energetic in the matinee against Lynn. The Cougars' first score came in the second, when a
Rylee Halenar single scored
Danielle Romine from second. Though LU answered with an RBI of their own in the fourth,
Jessica Romine would come up big again just an inning later.
With two runners on after a walk and a fielder's choice, Romine drove another deep – finding the same spot in the outfield she'd nailed in the earlier game. The double scored two, giving Colorado Christian a 3-1 lead – all they'd need to upend the Fighting Knights.
Boasting a talented staff, CCU Head Coach
Daven Bond started his fourth pitcher –
Jennie Winston – in the late game. Winston picked up the win after five innings of work in which the freshman allowed just three LU hits. Senior
Mariah Bledsoe relieved Winston, finishing the game with a strikeout and no hits.
"We put together 13 solid innings today," explained Bond at the end of the day. "Unfortunately we had to play 14 and it resulted in a split today. That's softball. After two days, I am most excited about our pitching. I knew we had a chance to have a strong staff, but with four quality pitchers, we will be in every game this year. All four of our pitchers are drastically different in the way they throw."
Jessica Romine finished Saturday with three hits, two doubles, a run and three RBI. The Cougar squad totaled eight hits on the day.
"Jessica is on fire. She has come up big for us and is carrying our offense as the others are getting their timing down."
Another pair of games await the Cougars tomorrow – they'll start early in Clearwater against Tampa before wrapping the tournament with seven innings against a perennially strong Barry University team.
"At this point in the season, we have to make the most of our opportunities to win. We have two tough ones tomorrow, so we have to put together 14 solid innings."
