In a critical series, the men's baseball team made the short commute to Denver for a doubleheader with Metro State on Friday. Both games were decided by a single run, but neither went in favor to the Cougs, as Metro won game one by a final score of 2-1, and the second game 8-7.
 
Game One:
The Cougars took advantage of two errors by Metro in the first inning, which allowed them to score and take the early 1-0 lead. Then it turned into a pitcher's duel between CCU starter Joey Loranger, and his counterpart from Metro Javi Vega.
 
It was another brilliant start from Joey Loranger, as he did everything he could to keep the conference playoff hopes alive for his team. Loranger shut down the Roadrunners offense through seven innings of work as he allowed six hits, and struck out seven hitters on the day. Vega was able to match Loranger, as he did not allow CCU to add onto their lead the rest of the time he was in the game.
 
After seven innings were complete, Colorado Christian still held onto a 1-0 lead, and called upon their bullpen to finish the game. Jarrod Rivera was the first man up out of the pen, and after he allowed a leadoff single in the eighth, he quickly retired the next two. With two outs and a runner on, Metro was able to come up with the clutch hit. They connected on a two run homerun to centerfield, which gave them the 2-1 lead.
 
CCU made it interesting in the top of the ninth, as they were able to get two runners on base, but an untimely double play halted the Cougar comeback attempt and ended the game.
 
Game Two:
Both offenses came out firing in the second game, as they were determined to not have another low scoring contest. Metro fired the opening shot, as they tallied two runs in the first inning to take the early lead.
 
Christian fired back in the second inning as they were able to score three runs. Jerry Gallegos got the Cougs on the board as his single through the right drove in Mikale Doherty and Dakota Bayles. Gallegos also had a hand in the third run being scored as he stole second base and forced an error on the catcher which allowed Cooper Gray to score from third.
 
 Metro tied the game 3-3 in their half of the second inning, then regained the lead after scoring three runs in the third inning, and one more in the fifth which gave them a 7-3 lead with just two innings left to play.
 
This time it was CCU who was able to rally late in the game. The Cougs scored two runs in the sixth inning, and twice more in the seventh to tie the game and send in into extra innings. However, the Cougs were unable to score in their half of the eighth inning, and Metro took advantage as they scored the game winning run to win by an 8-7 final score.
 
Colorado Christian is scheduled to be back in action on Saturday beginning at 12PM MST weather permitting. They will finish their series with Metro State with another doubleheader.