The Cougars played games three and four of their back-to-back double headers on Sunday, April 15, verse CSU-Pueblo, dropping both by scores of 13-5 and 6-8. The loses bring CCU's record to 14-20 (9-15 RMAC) with just 12 more RMAC games to go in the season. Colorado Christian currently sits in 7^th place, one spot outside of playoff contention, and six games behind the final playoff team, UCCS.
 
Game 1:
 
In the front end of the double header, the Cougars managed to keep it close for 6 ½ innings, with the game tied up at 2-2 after the top of the 6^th inning before the Thunderwolves broke it wide open with consecutive innings of three, three, and five runs. The Cougars did manage to put up a three spot of their own in the top of the 8^th inning to bring their total to 5 runs in the match, but ultimately fell by a score of 5-13.
 
The Cougars first run of the game came in the top of the 3^rd inning when Jerry Gallegos laid down a sacrifice bunt that gave Cooper Gray the opening he needed to score from third and get tie the game at 1-1.
 
Pueblo would add a solo run in the bottom of the 5^th inning, but CCU would respond immediately, tying it up again in the top of the 6^th on a Luke Bote single to left field, giving Austin Maltby time enough to score from second.
 
The Cougs would be sat down in short order in the top of the 7^th, but rally for three runs in the top of the 8^th, bringing in a vision of hope for the away team. Hunter Hays would score off a double from Austin Atkerson, Gallegos would score from a ground out one hitter later, and Atkerson would finish his trip around the bases after Dillon McTague singled up the middle. The score now sat at 5-8 going into the bottom of the 8^th inning, but the Thunderwolves would bat around and score five more runs to close the door on the Cougars comeback attempt.
 
Hays and McTague were the only Cougars with multiple hits in the game with three and two respectively, and Atkerson was the only CCU batter with multiple RBI's with two.
 
Game 2:
 
The final game of the series started off in the Cougars favor, scoring early in the top of the 1^st when Cooper Gray, who singled to lead off the game, stole second and third, was eventually brought in when Scotty Wright grounded out to the shortstop.
 
The lead didn't last too long as Pueblo stormed back in the bottom of the 2^nd inning to score three runs to take a 3-1 lead. The Thunderwolves continued their scoring ways in the bottom of the 3^rd inning by tacking on another pair of runs, making is a 5-1 lead midway through the seven-inning game. The home team would add one more in the bottom of the 4^th to build up a 6-1 lead.
 
Not to go out quietly, the Cougars began to mount a comeback and scored a pair of runs in the top of the 5^th inning. With Gallegos and Hays patiently waiting at second and third, designated hitter Scotty Wright would come through for his team once again, sending a single up the middle and into centerfield, scoring both runners and shrinking the lead to 3-6.
 
Pueblo would add two more runs in the bottom of the 6^th to take back their five-run lead, but CCU wasn't quite ready to load the buses just yet. CCU would send eight batters up to the plate in the final frame of the game, but would only score three runs, all from Austin Maltby's 2-out double to the left center gap, plating JC Barrios, Kaleb Johnson, and Luke Bote with one swing of his bat. Unfortunately, that's all the Cougs would manage in the inning, falling short of completing the comeback and dropping game number four by a score of 6-8
 
Austin Maltby went 2-5 on the day but drove in four runs and scored one more to lead the team in RBI's for the day which brought his team leading number to 36. Hunter Hays was very comfortable at the plate, going 4-9 in today's doubleheader with a walk, and scoring two runs. Scotty Wright went 1-4 but drove in three runs, and Gray and Gallegos each added a pair of runs on the day.
 
The Cougars will face arguably their toughest series of year next week when they head west to Golden to take on the Orediggers of Colorado School of Mines, currently sitting in first place in the RMAC standings. The games will be held Friday through Sunday weather permitting and be sure to check ccucougars.com for game times, live video, and up to date in game statistics.