The Cougars 17-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday afternoon as they lost to #15 West Texas A&M.  The Lady Buffs defeated CCU 12-6.
 
Leading off for West Texas was center fielder Ashley Hardin who hit a home run to center field to start the game.  Looking back, Hardin's big hitting would be an indicator of how the rest of the game would go.  The Lady Buffs strong offense totaled six home runs, three of which were by Hardin, earning her all-time career leader in home runs in the Lonestar conference and at West Texas A&M. 
 
The Cougars did not play "bad" whatsoever.  They faced a tough opponent that had good pitching and heavy hitting.  CCU still totaled 10 solid hits, only two behind the Lady Buff's 12 hits.  The difference maker was the long ball.  Head Coach Shanon Hays remarked "Even though we didn't pitch it as well as usual and made some mistakes in the outfield, I feel like that game will help us refocus going into this weekend".  Colorado Christian only made one error in left field that resulted in no runs.  West Texas on the other hand had four fielding errors giving CCU two unearned runs. 
 
The Cougars started ace Kenzie Mattey on the mound.  Mattey allowed 7 runs off only 6 hits, walked 4, with 4 strikeouts.  Sophomore Sarah Probasco relieved Mattey after 3.1 innings.  Probasco gave up only 2 hits that still resulted in 3 runs.  To close the game was freshman Jennifer Romero who came in for Probasco in the top of the 6^th.  Romero had 4 hits against her with 2 runs and 2 strikeouts.  This was Kenzie Mattey's first loss of the season at 11-1 overall. 

• CCU only had two strikeouts in the game compared to the Lady Buffs seven…

 
"I've tried to play a tough non-conference schedule.  Adding WT only helps our RPI.  There were some key games on our schedule that were cancelled in our Dallas tournament so we were anxious to add a ranked team to the list".  And hopefully the Cougars will get some votes in the rankings this season. 
 
CCU's Hanna Farmer scored the first run for the Cougars.  Farmer's signature bunt had her on first, she stole second and then advanced all the way home from a Shelby Fusich single that should have had Farmer on third.  The Lady Buffs center fielder muffed the ball giving CCU's runners an extra base and a run.  Alyssa Hanks then scored Fusich with a single to third base.  CCU led at 2-1 after the first frame. 
 
WT would go onto score two runs in the second and one in the third.  CCU's DP Charlotte Romero hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the third (RBI), but the Lady Buffs gained three more runs in the fifth and then really shutdown the Cougs in the sixth as they scored five runs.  CCU was able to score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Hanna Farmer used her speed to reach the plate off an error by WT's first baseman.  And then Stephanie Day hit a single left field allowing Kendall Yasui to score.  Farmer ended the game 2-3 with 2 runs.
 
"Both teams were dealing with a tight zone and they did a better job barreling up some balls.  However, there were still some positive things I saw in a disappointing loss.  We will spend Thursday and Friday ironing out some things and hopefully be locked in for conference play this weekend". 
 
 
The Cougars will host Metro State this weekend.  The Roadrunners are currently 5^th in the RMAC at 7-5 and 10-14 overall.  Games will be Saturday 12:00/2:00 and Sunday 11:00/1:00.