Colorado Christian had another impressive showing on Saturday afternoon in Grand Junction as they defeated Colorado School of Mines 8-0 in their first game of the day. Game two saw the Cougars jump out to a 9-2 lead over the 15^th ranked Colorado Mesa squad, but the Mavericks were able to come back and defeat the Cougs by a final score of 10-9. CCU continues their hot streak on the field, as they have now won seven of their last 11 games in conference play, and have scored at least eight runs in eight straight games.
 
Game 1 vs Colorado School of Mines:
It was a pitcher's duel early on as CCU starter Joey Loranger, and Mines starter Jake Ekstrom kept the opposing offenses in check as the game remained scoreless after three innings of play. Christian struck first, as they tallied five runs in the fifth beginning with a Kaleb Johnson single which scored Dillon Mctague and Alex Ginn. Later in the fifth, Dakota Bayles showed off his power, as he hit a three run homerun to left field which scored Bryce Brenton and Kaleb Johnson. It was the first homerun for Bayles on the year.
 
Loranger continued the strong effort on the mound and kept the Orediggers from scoring. Dillon Mctague added an insurance run in the seventh inning with an RBI single to make it a 6-0 lead for CCU. They added two more runs in the ninth inning to finish off the game and give them the impressive 8-0 victory.
 
Dakota Bayles finished the game going 3-4 with the homerun and four RBI. Dillon Mctague also finished 3-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Reigning RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Austin Maltby remained hot at the plate as he finished 3-5 with a double and a run scored. Alex Ginn went 2-5 with two runs scored.
 
Joey Loranger was fantastic in the game, working seven shutout innings giving up six hits, walking one, and striking out four. Alex Ginn worked the final two innings in relief and allowed two hits, no runs, and struck out one.
 
Game 2 vs Colorado Mesa:
#15 ranked Colorado Mesa jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning, but did not hold the lead very long as the Cougars answered back in the top of the third inning. CCU tallied six runs in the third inning, highlighted by a three run homerun off the bat of Cooper Gray. Colorado Christian wasn't finished with the offensive display, as they scored another three runs in the fourth inning thanks to a two run single by Scotty Wright, and another RBI single by Alex Ginn. Mesa scored one run in the fourth, so after four innings of play, CCU led by a score of 9-3.
 
The Cougs still led 9-3 in the sixth inning, but then Mesa mounted a rally by scoring two in the sixth, and four more runs in the seventh to tie the game 9-9. After a scoreless eighth inning, it came down to the ninth. The Cougars were unable to score in the top half of the ninth, which set Mesa up for the walk-off win in the bottom half. The Mavericks did just that, as they delivered the game winning RBI single to defeat the Cougs by a 10-9 final score.
 
Scotty Wright led the way offensively for the Cougars, as he finished the game 3-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Alex Ginn also had a good game going 2-5 with a double, run scored and two RBI. Dakota Bayles rounds out the Cougars with multiple hits in the game as he went 2-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.
 
Quinn Hunter got the start for the Cougs in the game, and settled in nicely after the first inning. He threw 5 1/3^rd innings allowing just five hits, five runs (four earned), walked two, and struck out three. Jarrod Rivera took the loss in the game, despite pitching well in relief. He went 2 1/3^rd innings out of the bullpen allowing just two hits, one run (none earned), walked one and struck out one.
 
Colorado Christian will be back in action on Sunday afternoon to finish the series with a single game against Colorado Mesa. First pitch is scheduled for 12PM MST.