Colorado Christian baseball team hosted the Grizzlies of Adams State University on Friday, March 30^th, in Lakewood. Due to recent inclement weather it was up in the air until Thursday night where the two doubleheaders would be played, with Pueblo and Colorado Springs being discussed as possible sites, but the Cougars came in early and pulled yard duty to clear the field to make playable conditions for Friday's games. The hard work paid off in the form of a pair of Cougar wins to bring their record to 11-13 overall, and 6-8 in RMAC play.
 
Game 1:
 
The first game of the day really picked up in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. The inning was led off by Austin Atkerson who worked a walk to put a runner on first for the Cougars. Atkerson would not be there long though as the Austin Maltby would launch an 0-2 pitch to right field for his team leading fifth home run of the season to put the Cougars up 2-0 early.
 
The 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th innings went quickly, with just two hits and six strikeouts between the two teams. CCU starter Joey Loranger had a strong stretch during these innings, including the top of the 5^th inning when he struck out the side.
 
The top of the 6^th inning was one that the Cougars would like to forget. Loranger managed to get the first batter to ground out, but that was followed by three straight errors, allowing one unearned run to come across the plate. After Loranger managed to strike out a pinch hitter, another error allowed another unearned run to score. In the end, the left side of the infield committed four errors but the Cougars managed limit the damage and only allow two runs to score.
 
CCU would answer in the bottom of the frame, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four runs to take back the lead 6-2. The Cougs scored their first run of the inning when Hunter Hays strolled home after Austin Maltby worked a bases loaded walk for the free run. After a pair of Cougar outs, Joel Manzano sent the first pitch he saw to right field, scoring Atkerson and Scotty Wright. The Grizzlies would make a pitching change after that hit and before the new pitcher could throw an official pitch, a balk to send Maltby home for free and Ingle to third.
 
The Cougars would tack on one last run in the bottom of the 7^th to bring the score to it's final tally of 7-2. The Grizzlies would threaten in the 8^th and 9^th innings putting multiple runners in scoring position, but ultimately, they were unable to bring them home.
 
Despite being CCU's ace on the mound, the win was just Joey Loranger's second win of the season as he threw seven innings, striking out eight batters, allowing four hits, walking just one, and allowing just two unearned runs. Zach Haning would close out the final two innings of the game, striking out one batter and only allowing one hit.
 
Hunter Hays was the lone Cougar with more than one hit in game one, also working a walk and scoring twice. Austin Maltby led the way in the scoring categories, notching a pair of runs and three RBI's.
 
Game 2:
 
The Cougars got the game's first run in the bottom of the 1^st when Cooper Gray led off the game with a walk, stole second, was pushed over to third on a Hunter Hays groundout, and then was brought home after a sac fly from Jerry Gallegos. The Cougars had a small lead, but a lead none-the-less after the first of 1-0.
 
Adams was quick to respond in the top of the 2^nd after taking advantage of a pair of CCU errors, bringing in three runs. The Grizzlies scored all three runs on one swing when a triple with runners on the corners turned into an unearned run when the throw from the cutoff man went into the CCU dugout.
 
CCU was able to get their next run in the bottom of the third with two outs when Hunter Hays singled to right center to bring home Cooper Gray a second time. Gray reached on a single, got to second after a passed ball. This left the score still in favor of the Grizzlies going into the 4th inning, 3-2. 
 
The 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th innings were scoreless for both teams, totaling just one hit between the teams, which left the Cougars in a tight spot coming into the bottom of the 7th down by one run in the final scheduled inning of the second game of the doubleheader. 
 
CCU tied up the game in the bottom of the 7^th after Austin Maltby landed a double, but was replaced by Quinn Hunter to pinch run. Hunter advanced to third after a base hit bunt from Luke Bote and was brought home from a RBI single between the first and second basemen from Dillon McTague who came in as a pinch hitter. 
 
Going into the extra 8th inning, CCU's Jarred Rivera was able to shut down ASU with a quick three outs after facing only three batters. The Cougars were unable to score as well, taking the game into the 9^th inning. Jarrod Rivera got a quick three outs on the mound to take CCU into the bottom of the 9^th giving his hitters another chance to win the game.
 
The Cougars would only send one batter up in the bottom of the 9^th. With the count at 0-2, Joel Manzano crushed his second home run of the year, a no-doubter over the right field wall to take the game 4-3. Manzano was greeted at home plate by his team who literally and figuratively showered him upon his winning step.
 
Obviously Manzano's home run was the highlight hit of the game, and while no Cougar had more than one hit, seven did record a hit in the game. Cooper Gray was the player in the game to record multiple runs scored with his two.
 
Starting pitcher Evan Fink was in line for the loss when he exited the game after the 4^th inning down by one run, but got a no decision when the Cougars won the game. Fink struck out two and walked one while on the mound. Jarrod Rivers had himself another long relief outing, throwing 2 1/3 innings, striking out one and allowing no hits or walks to shut down the Grizzlies and allow his Cougars the chance they needed to snag the win.
 
The Cougars will play another double-header against Adams State on Saturday, March 31, at All Star Park in Lakewood to wrap up the weekends action. The first game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.