Colorado Christian Softball split another pair of games with CSU Pueblo Sunday, falling 12-6 to the Thunderwolves of CSU Pueblo before roaring back for a hard-fought 6-5 win in the series finale. After winning two and losing two on the weekend, the Cougars face the remaining four regular-season weeks with a 15-19 overall mark, 9-9 in RMAC play.  
 
CCU began the day's race in front of their visiting foes, up 3-0 after RBI singles from Dana Rex, Jessica Romine, and Stephanie Tatham. Regrettably, a sloppy fourth inning from the Cougars aided a big Pueblo run, as the Thunderwolves managed six runs on just two RBI and three Colorado Christian errors.
 
The home team picked up another two in the bottom of that set, getting run number four off a Romine single through the right side. The Cougars came within one on the next at-bat, punishing a CSUP error with a Gabby Vengoechea run.
 
Unfortunately that was the closest the blue and gold would get. Though they'd plate one more off a Sarah Rasmussen RBI in the sixth, two three-run homers from the Thunderwolves in the last two innings decisively shut the door on the Christian hopes.
 
Romine went 4-for-4 in the loss, collecting two RBI and a run in CCU's ten-hit, five-RBI effort. Tana Feiner (10-7) got the start and the loss after allowing eight CSUP hits and three earned runs (four Ks). Katie Edison and Jennie Winston closed out the contest for the Cougars, combining for three earned runs on eight hits.
 
A two-RBI hit from Letty Valenzuela got the scoring started in the finale, as the Cougars adopted a first-inning lead they would never relinquish. Each team added a run in the third, with CCU's coming off Michaela Barr's single shot down the right field line. Barr would do it again in the fourth to earn Christian their sixth, but not before Valenzuela plated Kristina Billante with a one-RBI hit to left field. Though the Thunderwolves would score four combined in the fifth and sixth, Cougar pitcher Mariah Bledsoe stood tall when she needed to, shutting down the final CSUP batter after a huge Christian double play.
 
Bledsoe (4-6) wrapped the game with the win and four Ks, allowing five earned runs on 12 Pueblo hits.
 
"We knew going into the weekend how important those games were and that we were facing a tough team," remarked the senior from Erie after the game. "After getting a loss to them the day before, I was more than ready to face them again, and so were our hitters."
 
Indeed, the Cougars fed at the plate, amassing six earned runs on 14 hits. Rasmussen accounted for three on four at-bats, and Valenzuela and Barr added a combined six RBI on four hits.
 
"Our approach was much more aggressive at the plate on day two and it really paid off. It was fun to see us put some runs on the board. We played phenomenal on defense and made quite a few clutch plays in that fourth game. It makes it fun and a little easier to throw knowing my team has my back. With the infield rolling a double play before the last batter I was able to go at her with all I had, knowing that we were going to get the out somewhere."
 
The Cougars remain in Lakewood through the week – they'll host UC Colorado Springs and Western New Mexico on Friday and Saturday.