An opportunistic Colorado Christian squad took full advantage of the chances that came their way in Kearney, NE Wednesday. Thanks to monster hits and lethal efficiency, the Cougars turned in their most dominating performance of the season, winning 14-5 and 11-1 over UNK to advance to 13-17 on the season.
 
For a few weeks now, the blue and gold have had had little trouble finding the holes in their opponents' outfields. Until Wednesday, however, timing and consistency were two luxuries just out of reach for the CCU squad. Though they had players like Jessica Romine, Sarah Rasmussen, Letty Valenzuela, and Kristina Billante getting big work done at the plate, the Cougars proved unable to score without reliably strong offensive support through the remainder of the lineup. That all changed Wednesday, however, as CCU ignited for five doubles and six homeruns on 20 hits. Eight Christian players scored runners in the sweep, with Rasmussen, Romine, and Michaela Barr leading the way.
 
Though there were plenty of fireworks to come, the day's first game started slow – with the competing squads combining for just two hits and one error in the opening frame. Things changed in the second, as the Cougars began an assault they would build on through each of the remaining five innings. Sparked by a Romine one-RBI single to center field, Colorado Christian plated two in the second inning.
 
Before the Lopers could ever get on the board, CCU would strike again in the very next inning, gaining their third run off a Stephanie Tatham double through the middle. The Cougars would get their first homer of the game six batters later, when Romine drilled a three-RBI blast to left center.
 
Kearney would answer in the bottom of the third, getting two off a pair of singles, but Christian's momentum wouldn't falter. Up 7-3 heading into four, CCU added three more thanks to a pair of Tatham and Alexa Coffing RBIs followed by an untimely Kearney error.
 
Valenzuela and Coffing responded to two fourth-inning UNK runs with a pair of homers in the fifth and final inning. The Cougars hung four on the scoreboard with big two-RBI Valenzuela and Coffing shots to get the 15-4 win.
 
Romine wrapped the game with an impressive four RBI and two runs on three hits and four at-bats. Coffing and Tatham also went 3-for-4, combining for five RBI and four runs in the win. The team collaboration included an impressive 13 RBI on 13 hits – and the success wouldn't end in game one.
 
Picking up the assault right where her teammates left off, Rasmussen kicked off the series finale with a two-run poke past the center-field fence. Five Cougar runs would be scored in the first inning, with Coffing and Barr getting in on the scoring action. Two more Christian homeruns (Rasmussen and Barr) would crush the Lopers in the fifth inning – both three-RBI shots to punctuate CCU's dominance on the day. UNK's only run in the 11-1 game came off a lone single in the bottom of the first.
 
Rasmussen and Barr each closed out the day with two hits apiece, combining for nine RBI and three runs.
 
Of course, there was more on display Wednesday than the high-powered Christian offense. Captaining a defense that allowed just four earned runs on the day were pitchers Mariah Bledsoe (3-5) and Tana Feiner (9-6). Bledsoe's effort in game one produced three strikeouts and resulted in three earned runs on 12 hits. Feiner's showing in the final game included seven Loper Ks and just one earned run on five hits.
 
Now 30 games into the season, the Colorado Christian squad can finally look ahead to a home series in Lakewood. The Cougars will host Colorado State Pueblo on Saturday and Sunday.