Colorado Christian University Softball showed an impressive amount of resiliency Sunday, rallying for a monster 15-1 win over Chadron State after losing the day's opener 5-3.
 
The Cougars held the lead through much of game one, going up 3-2 after a first-inning Gabby Vengoechea score and a fourth-inning Letty Valenzuela homerun. Valenzuela's bomb – her third of the year – scored two to give CCU the narrow lead with three and a half innings left to play. Unfortunately, the home Eagles would answer with the tying run in the bottom of four, and then go ahead with two in the fifth. The low-scoring affair would not be a sign of things to come for the Cougars.
 
Despite Valenzuela's homer and a double from Vengoechea, there wasn't much happening for the blue and gold in the opener. Struck-out more than they connected, the Christian squad managed just six hits on 25 at-bats. And though they committed two errors in the field, the Cougars wouldn't suffer from additional Chadron State runs as a result.
 
Mariah Bledsoe got the start for CCU, but it was junior Katie Edison who picked up the loss – her fifth of the year – after giving up two earned runs in a little more than two innings of work. Edison and Bledsoe combined for two Ks, and allowed 11 Chadron hits.
 
A completely different game, the finale featured explosive Christian bats that challenged the Eagle outfield. Kicked off by a two-RBI Kristina Billante long ball, the Cougars unleashed for a ten-run first inning that featured another big hit from Billante (a two-RBI double) and a Sarah Rasmussen three-run homer. Though they managed just three hits in the inning, the Cougars took full advantage of an inefficient Chadron outing in the opening frame.
 
Up 10-0 heading into the second, the relaxed CCU squad played with confidence and energy. A CSC homerun in the bottom of two could not deter their resolve, as the blue and gold plated more runners with each inning. The abbreviated game would end after just five innings, with the Cougars on top 15-1 thanks to late one-RBI hits from Danielle Romine, Billante, and Rasmussen.
 
Colorado Christian finished the game with eight hits, getting three from Billante and two from Rasmussen. The two combined for an impressive ten RBI and six runs.
 
Anchoring CCU's potent efforts in the late game was freshman pitcher Tana Feiner, who picked up her seventh win of the season after limiting the Eagles to just one earned run and five hits. Feiner also tossed four strikeouts  in five innings of work.
 
Heading into the coming week's trip to Kearney, NE, Colorado Christian holds a 10-16 overall record and a 7-7 conference mark. They'll host CSU Pueblo in their Lakewood Park opener after the midweek series at UNK.