Using a head-turning defensive effort that was anchored by a pair of stingy pitchers, Colorado Christian Softball picked up a pair of critical RMAC wins Monday. The Cougars rallied from Saturday losses to upend pod opponents Western New Mexico (1-0) and UC Colorado Springs (8-4) to advance to 11-11 in conference play with just three weekends remaining in the regular season.
 
The day's opener against Western New Mexico featured an impressive duel in the circle, as neither team managed a score through the first seven innings of play. Christian freshman Tana Feiner (11-8) stood tall for the Cougars in all eight frames, allowing just four WNMU hits and holding the Mustangs scoreless by forcing 13 fly outs, five ground outs, and fanning four Western NM hitters.
 
Though WNMU pitcher Mikayla Austin also turned in a stout effort, CCU's defense assured the Cougars would need just one to get the job done. That one came in the extra eighth, as freshman Letty Valenzuela delivered a timely single down the left field line to score Sarah Rasmussen from second. Valenzuela's shot marked her second hit of the day – impressive when considering the blue and gold tallied just three hits as a team.
 
Ignited by Valenzuela's walk-off in game one, Colorado Christian kicked off the finale against UCCS with a well of momentum they would build on right away. It took just four batters for the Cougars to hang one on the board, as catcher Danielle Romine scored sister Jessica Romine with a base hit up the middle in the first. CCU would score again in the very next inning, another Jessica Romine run driven in by senior Sarah Rasmussen to move the score to 2-0.
 
It was Jessica Romine crossing home again in the fourth inning, thanks to a Billante one-RBI single.
 
With steam gathering as the game proceeded, the home Cougars sharpened play in the field and at the plate. Impressive stops and great pitching propelled the home CCU team, keeping confidence high even when UCCS pulled to within one in the sixth frame.
 
Christian responded right away in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five on four hits, and taking advantage of two UCCS errors in the field. Billante and Danielle Romine each accounted for two RBI in the inning, helping CCU to an 8-2 lead with the end of the game in sight. The Mountain Lions would score twice more in the final seventh, but the Christian damage had already been inflicted.
 
The Cougars wrapped the game with eight runs on ten hits, collecting seven RBI thanks to six combined from Billante and Danielle Romine. Defensively, CCU benefited from impressively strong plays from the likes of Stephanie Tatham, Dana Rex, and Billante. Mariah Bledsoe (5-7) provided the anchor for the Cougars, picking up the win after holding the Mountain Lions without a single earned run.
 
"Our pitching was amazing today," exclaimed Tatham after the win. "Tana and Mariah worked hard to get on top in every at-bat. When your pitcher is working hard for you, it's a huge encouragement to work even harder for her.
 
"It was obvious how hard our defense was working today. Multiple times we had girls laying out for the ball like Kristina's diving catch in center. We had Dana turn another 5-4-3 double play which is so rare and exciting when it happens. And to top it all off Danielle is a stud behind the plate and any girl trying to steal is a sure out. We fed off of each other's momentum today and really played for each other and that's why we came out on top in the end."
 
A return to the road awaits the Cougars this week – they'll travel to Spearfish, SD for a pair of doubleheaders at Black Hills State before returning home to wrap the 2015 home season against Colorado Mesa April 18-19.