CCU Softball was defeated by the Skyhawks on Friday's double header dropping game one 5-3, and then game two 13-5. It has been a long two weeks for the Cougars as they have traveled over 20+ hours in a bus, and have experience schedule changes, along with fatigue.
 
The Cougs took to the field on Friday morning ready to open their series against Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Representing CCU on the mound in game one was Tana Feiner (4-7), a sophomore pitcher from Las Vegas, NV. Feiner has earned all of the Cougars wins thus far in the season.
 
The first inning was hitless for both teams, but CCU was first to get the offense rolling with a hit by Carly Perry in the top of the second. Christian then had the first run of the day with a Letty Valenzuela single in the third frame. It was a great team effort starting with a double by catcher Amy Edison, followed by a single by Hanna Farmer, and then Charlotte Romero was hit by pitch loading all three bases. Valenzuela's single put Edison over home plate, but the inning ended with three outs getting Farmer at third. CCU had one run, three hits, and two left on base.
 
It was Fort Lewis who would connect with the bat in the bottom of the fourth inning, earning two runs (2-1), but Colo. Christian would jump ahead once again in the top of the fifth putting two on the scoreboard (3-2). CCU's Hanna Farmer had the first double hit of the frame, but definitely not the last. Charlotte Romero stepped up to the plate following Farmer, and doubled one right down center field allowing Farmer to score. Then it was Kristina Billante who doubled another to left field, putting Romero over the plate. Blue and gold had three doubles in a row in the top of the fifth making the score 3-2 CCU.
 
The Skyhawks had plans of their own and earned four hits in the bottom of the fifth including two singles, one double, and one triple that gave them two more runs. There would only be one more hit in the following two frames and no more runs by either squad ending the game in a devastating Cougar loss 5-3.
 
Tana Feiner would take the loss with seven hits, five runs, four walks, and five strike outs. The Cougars would end the game with eight hits and eight strike outs. CCU swung the bat aggressively having five players with double hits. Leaders in this game were Hanna Farmer who went 2-4 with one run. Charlotte Romero would go 2-3 with one run and one RBI. Kristian Billante 1-4 with one RBI, and five putouts. Letty Valenzuela went 1-4 with one RBI, and Amy Edison, who started the scoring off, would go 1-3 with one run.
 
The second game started conservatively with the Skyhawks scoring first in the bottom of the first inning. CCU then put two on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Gabrielle Rinker and Mattison Johnson were both walked by FLC pitcher Rachel Foos. The Rinker, Johnson duo had a double steal putting them in position to score. Jennie Winston singled to left field letting Rinker touch home. Then there was no one better to step up to the plate other than Hanna Farmer who had a single hit, advancing Johnson to score. The Cougs were up 2-1 going into the bottom of the second. This is where blue and golf lost control of the game. Fort Lewis would go onto score seven runs in the second, one in the third, and four more in the bottom of the sixth. CCU lost from run rule 13-5.
 
CCU had a trio of pitchers in game two including Shelby Diffenderfer (0-4), Tana Feiner (4-7), and Jennie Winston (0-5). Diffenderfer would come away with the loss pitching 1.2 innings, giving away nine hits and eight runs.
 
Carly Perry would do an outstanding job for CCU at the plate hitting a home run, and then singling up the middle allowing Hanna Farmer to score. Perry ended the day hitting 2-3 with one run and two RBI. Farmer also had an exceptional game earning the last run for CCU off a Kristina Billante single. Farmer went 3-4 with two runs and one RBI. Billante hit 1-4 with one RBI, and Charlotte Romero hit 2-4. Johnson and Rinker both went 1-2 with one run, and then Jennie Winston 1-3 and one RBI.
 
Colorado Christian will be back on the Fort Lewis Softball Field Saturday, March 5^th with the first pitch at 11:00 am followed by a 1:00 pm game.