Opening up the series but also closing out the weekend, the Cougars snagged a pair of wins against the Orediggers of Colorado School of Mines after an exciting day of softball.
GAME 1: W 7-6
Both teams started out the day with four batters a piece in the first inning. Colorado Christian landed the first run of the series after Kacie Burger led off the second inning with a double and was followed with a single from Caitlin McCarthy to bring her home. The next run for the Cougars came in the bottom of the third after Kendall Yasui hit a single, made it to third after a Stephanie Day double, and then reached home on an error by the Orediggers.
Colorado School of Mines took control of the fourth inning – landing a single run in the top and going three up three down in the bottom. Their momentum continued into the fifth as they scored 4 runs to give them the lead by 3, 5-2. But after a single from Hanna Farmer and a homerun from Stephanie Day, the Cougars had shortened the difference to 1 run.
The Orediggers scored again in the top of the sixth – and the Cougars responded with a single run of their own thanks to a homerun from Carly Perry. Colorado Christian held Mines in the top of the seventh, and thanks to another homerun, this time from Stephanie Day, the game was headed into extra innings.
Colorado Christian held the Orediggers again in the top of eighth inning, and after their first two batters got out in the bottom they were prepping for another inning of play. However coming into pinch hit was freshman Piper Lujan, who watched a ball go by and then hit a walk off homerun to win the game with a final score of 7-6.
Jennifer Romero earned her eleventh win on the mound after pitching the entire game and striking out four.
In between the games the team got to recognize their newest addition to the team, #00 Lorelai Kinzer. Lorelai came to the team through an organization called Team Impact and was recognized as she signed her NLI on the field. Colorado Christian cannot express how thankful they are for Lorelai and for what she brings to the team.
GAME 2: W 11-8
Colorado School of Mines started out hot in game two – scoring 4 runs in the first inning. But the Cougars responded with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Hanna Farmer was the first to score after hitting a single, stealing second and making it home after Kendall Yasui doubled down the left line. Stephanie Day walked and Kacie Burger was hit by the pitch to load the bases for Charlotte Romero. Romero then reached on a fielder's choice as the Orediggers got Yasui out at home to try to keep them from scoring. But Caitlin McCarthy then singled to bring home Day and Burger to close out the inning.
The next couple innings were quiet for both teams, but the streak was broken in the bottom of the fourth after the second homerun on the day from Piper Lujan to tie up the game. Shelby Fusich also made it home in the fourth after hitting a single but advancing to third on an error, and scoring after a single from Stephanie Day to take the lead 5-4.
Mines tied it up again in the top of the fifth as they scored a single run, but Colorado Christian responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to take their lead back. Charlotte Romero was the first on base after reaching on an error, and was then relieved by pinch runner Jamie Romero. Caitlin McCarthy then singled to advance Romero to third, but did not have to wait long before Carly Perry hit a 3 RBI homerun to take the lead. Shelby Fusich made it home for the final run of the inning after hitting a single, advancing to second on an error, and making it home after Stephanie Day singled.
The Orediggers scored another single run in the top of the sixth to shorten the difference to 3 runs. But after Jamie Romero singled and Carly Perry hit yet another homerun, the Cougars increased their lead to 5 going into the final inning. Mines notched in another single run in the seventh and came close to scoring again, but was unable to take the win.
Makena Martin took her third win of the year after pitching the entire game and earning 3 strikeouts.
UP NEXT: The two big wins on the day give the Cougars an overall record of 29-10 and an RMAC record of 22-4. Colorado Christian will host the Orediggers again on Monday the 15th with another double header beginning at 1pm.
