It isn't often baseball fans witness 37 runs in one game. Those in Alamosa on Sunday saw just that, however, as active bats exploded for both Colorado Christian University and Adams State. To say the day was unusual would be an understatement, as CCU's Cougars lost 20-17 despite 19 hits and five ASU errors.
 
It didn't take long for the high-scoring tone of the game to be set. A five-run first inning had the Cougars fired up, as a two-RBI Jerry Gallegos single was followed by a two-RBI double from Bryce Brenton. Matthew Zarlengo plated Brenton soon after, helping Christian take a statement 5-0 lead into the bottom of the frame.
 
Unfortunately, as they would all game, the home Grizzlies responded right away with four quick runs. Though CCU added another off a Gallegos sacrifice fly in the second, ASU tied the game on their half of the inning when Colorado Christian pitcher Matt Lewis walked in back-to-back Grizzly runners.
 
The Cougars would gain their lead back in the third, collecting unearned runs thanks to consecutive base hits from Ryan Silva and Zach Scott.
 
It would be the last advantage CCU would hold in the game.
 
Adams State unleashed in the bottom of the fourth, igniting for ten runs on seven hits and one Colorado Christian error. It was a deflating turn of events for the visiting Cougars, who lost almost all their momentum midway through the Grizzlies' fourth-inning surge.
 
Still, the game's scoring was far from over. Though ASU would hang another four on the board in the sixth, the Christian squad would patiently chip away at the inflated Adams lead. After scoring one in the fifth – off a Taylor Dudley ground-out – the Cougars heated up again in the seventh, thanks to a Chance Richardson triple to left center and a pair of miscues from the ASU defense.
 
Another three came in the eighth, when Dudley drilled his third homerun of the season – a three-RBI shot that pulled the Cougars to within five (20-15).
 
CCU's final chances for a comeback came in the ninth inning. Giving the blue and gold hope were underclassmen Titan Marler and Austin Atkerson, who each scored a runner on their turn at the plate. Unfortunately, Colorado Christian would get their third out before they could manage another score.
 
A small handful of Cougar pitchers would have their turn against the Grizzlies, but it was Daniel Bednarski (1-3) who was saddled with the loss after allowing eight earned runs on four hits in two innings of work. Danny Graves and Garret Henrichsen closed out the game for the Cougars, with Henrichsen tossing three innings and giving up just one earned run on three hits.
 
Zach Scott finished the game with an impressive four hits on seven at-bats, amassing one RBI and one run. Taylor Dudley tallied a season-best four RBI, combining with Jerry Gallegos to account for seven CCU RBI.
 
Now 10-16 on the year and 3-13 in RMAC competition, Colorado Christian will return home this week for a stretch of home games beginning with a four-game series against Colorado State Pueblo beginning Saturday at noon.