Colorado Christian began a three game series against Rogers State on Friday afternoon in Claremore, OK. It was a tight game throughout, and needed extra innings to decide a winner, but the Cougars came out on top by a final score of 3-2 in 12 innings. CCU Earns their second victory of the year, while handing a talented Rogers State team their first loss.
 
The Cougs jumped out to an early lead in the game, thanks to an RBI off the bat of Luke Bote. Bote drove in Brandon Hesselberg, who led off the game with a single. CCU added onto their lead in the top half of the third inning, when Austin Maltby drove in Brandon Hesselberg to give the Cougs a 2-0 lead.
 
Rogers State would answer in their half of the third inning, as they scored one to cut the CCU lead in half 2-1. The score remained 2-1 in favor of the Cougs until the bottom half of the sixth when the Hillcats scored one run to tie things up 2-2.
 
Both teams threatened, but neither could plate the go ahead run, so the game headed into extra innings. Once again, each team had chances to go ahead, but each side had great pitching which was able to maneuver out of danger.
 
Finally, Colorado Christian was able to capitalize in the top of the 12^th inning. Jerry Gallegos led the inning off with a double to left center. That brought up Alex Ginn, who was taking his first collegiate plate appearance. Ginn came through with a sacrifice bunt, moving Gallegos to third base, and 90 feet away from taking the lead. After Dillon McTague walked, Brandon Hesselberg came up with the clutch hit as he singled to right field which scored Gallegos and gave the Cougs a 3-2 lead.
 
Christian tried to get the final three outs and seal their victory, but ran into trouble with the Hillcats offense. After loading the bases with only one out, head coach Gregg Mucerino called on senior reliever Owen Harris to try and diffuse the situation. Harris did just that, as he struck out the first hitter he faced on three pitches, then was able to induce a weak pop-up to first base for the final out of the game. It marks the first save of the year for Harris.
 
Brandon Hesselberg led the way offensively as he finished the game going 3-5 with two runs scored and one run driven in. Kaleb Johnson also went 3-5 in the game, and Jerry Gallegos went 2-5. Michael Cantrell started for the Cougs and went 3 innings while scattering seven hits and allowing just one run. Cantrell gave way to Jarrod Rivera who had another stellar outing going four innings allowing just one hit and two walks. Alex Ginn got the win in the game as his record now sits at 1-0 on the year.
 
Head coach Gregg Mucerino remarked, "Our team displayed tremendous effort today, and played really well as a unit. It is a big step forward for our program, and I can't say enough about the heart and will to win that we displayed today. Our goal is to win each series that we play, and this win puts us in good shape to accomplish that tomorrow."
 
The team will be back on the field tomorrow as they play two games to finish their series with Rogers State. Game times are set for 12PM & 2:30PM MST.