Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The CCU Cougars played a pair of games at the 4Him Tournament in Cleburne, TX, against the Tabor College Blue Jays and the Southwestern Christian University Eagles. Colorado Christian dropped both games, 0-2 and 4-9, respectively, to drop to 1-2 on the season.
 
In the first game against Tabor, the Cougars started senior right handed pitcher Joey Loranger. Despite throwing a gem and allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out nine Blue Jays in five innings, Loranger took home the loss on the day. With the game still in reach the Cougars brought in junior Alex Ginn in relief. Ginn also had a strong outing, striking out two batters and allowing one run on one hit in two innings of work.
 
Unfortunately, CCU couldn't find their bats, managing just one hit in seven innings. That hit came courtesy of sophomore Hunter Hays in the bottom of the sixth inning when he doubled to left field.
 
The second game of the day was a rematch of the last game from the 2017 season against the Eagles of Southwestern Christian University. Tonight's game was stopped early due to time constraints for the tournament, lasting just six full innings. The Cougars lost their second game of the day 4-9, dropping their season record to 1-2.
 
The Cougar pitching staff threw well, but the Eagle hitters were locked in from the beginning. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, plating 3 runs on an early homerun following a walk and a single to start the game. They would go on to score again in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to pile on the runs that ultimately led to their victory.
 
Leading the way offensively for the Cougars was Austin Atkerson who went 2-3 in the shortened game with an RBI. Redshirt sophomore Luke Bote made his one hit count triple as he found himself standing on third after he ripped a liner to center field, and two hitters later he would score the tying run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Also in the game, senior Bryce Breton and redshirt senior Jerry Gallegos would define "taking one for the team" as both players were hit by pitches, for Gallegos it would be his third bruise in as many games during this tournament. Jerry made sure that his pain wasn't for nothing and scored shortly after being given that base after scoring off a walk in the first.
 
Colorado Christian will play their final game of the tournament Saturday afternoon after the final seeding is settled at the end of round robin play in the morning. Check CCUCougars.com for updates throughout the day.