CCU Baseball got a split in their series at Colorado School of Mines last month, but the Cougars could not manage to produce a win against the Orediggers Friday in Lakewood. Stuck in a streak of losses that grew to nine with the day's sweep, the Cougars fell 14-4 and 8-0 to open the series against their Golden rivals. Ryan Erazo (3-6) and Matt Weaver (0-7) picked up the losses on the day, after allowing a combined 11 earned runs in the day's games.
 
Though the Colorado Christian squad took a 4-2 lead in the first game's opening inning, CCU stalled in the final eight frames of the 14-4 loss. Locked in a struggle to generate momentum at the plate, the Cougars managed just four hits after their explosive entrance. The result was a lopsided game that had the Orediggers out-hitting Christian 16-8. RBI doubles from Dustin Conley and Jerry Gallegos helped CCU get on the board early, but could not ignite a spark the blue and gold would need to answer Mines' assault.
 
A game well within reach heading into the ninth quickly became anything but, as CSM turned up the heat in a seven-run inning that included an Oredigger grand slam.
 
Taylor Dudley and Jack Nelson combined for four Colorado Christian hits, while Conley added a team-high two RBI. CCU's staff of Erazo, Garret Henrichsen, Matt Fontneau and Lukas Jorgensen fanned just three Oredigger batters and allowed 14 earned runs on 16 hits.
 
In the second game, it was the Orediggers flashing the hot start, as the visitors plated seven in the first two innings. Quiet bats crippled the Cougars, as the home team struggled in a three-hit, ten-K performance. Playing without threat, the Orediggers managed three doubles, a triple, and a home run in their nine-hit showing.
 
Daniel Bednarski pitched most of the 8-0 loss for the Cougars, though it was Weaver who got the loss. Bednarski's four-inning effort allowed just one CSM run on five hits. Peter Scheffel closed the game for Colorado Christian.
 
The squads will break for a day before returning to All-Star to wrap the series. Sunday's first pitch is slated for noon, weather permitting.