Colorado Christian Softball went in to Sunday's doubleheader ready for a battle and fully aware of the need for strong showing against the RMAC's second-ranked Colorado Mesa team. By the time two games ended in Denver, the Cougars had a statement win and head of steam they'll surely use as they wrap the series against the Mavericks on Monday. Though they lost the opener 3-2, CCU won the second contest 10-2 to advance to 13-11 in league play.
 
Freshman pitcher Tana Feiner (12-10) got the day going with a tone-setting effort from the circle. The Las Vegas native struck out three-straight batters in the second inning and held the Mavs to just three hits in three innings, allowing her Christian squad opportunity to take an early lead. Unfortunately, the Cougars struggled to get things going early on, as the blue and gold managed just two hits through four innings. Mesa's 2-0 lead heading into the fifth haunted the home Cougs until the bottom of that inning, as CCU capitalized on a Maverick error to score their first. A one-RBI Letty Valenzuela single through the left side scored Jessica Romine and tied the game.
 
Unfortunately, though their late rally had the Cougars eager for an upset win, a sixth-inning Colorado Christian error resulted in Mesa's winning run.
 
Feiner finished the game with five Ks and just two earned runs, but was saddled with the loss after allowing six CMU hits. Kristina Billante and Stephanie Tatham combined for four of CCU's five hits in the loss.
 
"We weren't really down after the first game," explained Valenzuela, "we had just made some little mistakes we knew we could bounce back from."
 
Bounce back was just what the Cougars did in game two. On the way to an 11-hit effort, Christian ignited at the plate. Two first-inning runs – a Valenzuela RBI and Sarah Rasmussen's stolen home base – got CCU the lead in the game, and sparked a fire that wouldn't be extinguished. Mesa responded with one run in the third, but Valenzuela answered right back in the bottom of the frame with a solo bomb over the left field fence.
 
"We kept positive mindsets through the second game," Valenzuela continued, "we kept things positive and didn't get down on ourselves. We wanted to keep doing what we have all year, battling together."
 
Though Mesa would get one more, off a one-run homer in the sixth, Colorado Christian monopolized the scoring in the late game. A huge five-run fifth had the Cougars feeling greedy, as Danielle Romine, Alexa Coffing, and Dana Rex put on senior day shows with impressive RBI base hits. A two-run Rasmussen shot in the sixth assured a Christian win and an abbreviated game.
 
Anchoring the CCU effort in the late game was senior pitcher Mariah Bledsoe, who earned her eighth win of the year after allowing just two Maverick runs on five hits.
 
Billante and Rasmussen each collected three runs after going 2-for-4 from the plate. Rasmussen, Valenzuela, and Coffing combined for six of Christian's nine RBI.

"Not only is this our last home series, but it is senior weekend so our energy is higher than ever," explained Bledsoe at the end of the day. "Mesa is always a very competitive team and so are we, which makes for some very fun games. We have a lot to play for this weekend – not only are we really fighting to solidify a playoff position, but we would love to lock in the playoff location near home so we can make it to the CCU Athletic Banquet. And if we do make it we are determined to have the best costumes."
 
The Cougars have another shot at Mesa awaiting them on Monday – they'll host the Mavericks at the Regency Athletic Complex in Denver. First pitch is slated for 11am.