Colorado Christian wrapped up their series against Rogers State on Saturday. After losing game one 6-5, the Cougs bounced back to win game two 2-1. CCU took two out of three from the Hillcats, which gave the team their first series victory since February 2016.
 
Game 1: Comeback Falls Just Short
The Cougars jumped out in front early, as they looked to secure a series win against Rogers State. Brandon Hesselberg got the game started with a single, and then moved to third on a double by the next hitter Kaleb Johnson. After Jerry Gallegos lined out, Austin Maltby singled to score Hesselberg and Johnson. Four batters into the game, CCU had already built a 2-0 lead. They added onto their lead in the second inning thanks to an RBI double from Luke Bote who drove in Dillon McTague who had also doubled in the inning. Heading into the bottom half of the second, the Cougs had a 3-0 advantage.
 
Then Rogers State woke up offensively, as they scored twice in the second, added two more in the third, and a single run in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead heading into the fifth inning. Scotty Wright got the Cougars back within one as he delivered a two out RBI single to drive in Kaleb Johnson. The Hillcats added an insurance run in their half of the sixth inning, which gave them a 6-4 advantage heading into the last inning. After two quick outs, Jerry Gallegos blasted his first homerun of the year to right field, which trimmed the Rogers State lead back to one at 6-5. Unfortunately, that was as close as Colorado Christian would get, as the Hillcats recorded the final out to seal the 6-5 victory over CCU.
 
Kaleb Johnson finished game one going 3-4 with a double, and two runs scored. Austin Maltby had a good game as well hitting out of the cleanup spot. Maltby finished the game going 2-4 with two RBI. Luke Bote also put in a multi-hit effort as he went 2-3 with a double and one RBI.
 
Game 2: Cougs Win Game, and Series
Game two on the day turned out to be the rubber match between the two evenly matched teams. Just like the first two games, this game came down to the wire, but Scotty Wright slammed the door shut in the bottom of the ninth to earn the victory in the game, and the series.
 
Both teams got on the board in the 4^th inning, starting with an RBI single by Scotty Wright to score Austin Maltby. That gave CCU a 1-0 lead, but it was short lived as Rogers State answered with a run in their half of the 4^th inning as well. Colorado Christian grabbed the lead for good in the 6^th inning on a Dillon McTague single to score Jerry Gallegos who singled to open up the inning.
 
Evan Fink got the start for CCU and tossed a gem. Fink hurled six great innings allowing four hits, one run and striking out eight batters. Jarrod Rivera came in to relieve Fink and worked two innings allowing no hits, walking two batters, and struck out three. Scotty Wright earned his second save of the year after shutting the Hillcats down in the 9^th inning.
 
Head coach Gregg Mucerino spoke after the series win saying, "We are developing a winning attitude on this team. I have been impressed with our will to win early on this season. Our pitching staff did a great job all weekend keeping us in the game and giving us a chance to win. Evan Fink had another great start for us. Getting this series win was a big accomplishment against a very good Rogers State team."
 
CCU now gears up for their next series as they travel to Hays, KS to take on Fort Hays State for a three game series beginning on Feb. 17^th.