After a solid day on both sides of the plate the Cougars took the split on day one of their pod series against New Mexico Highlands and Colorado Mesa.
GAME 1 VS #11 COLORADO MESA: L 3-4
With potentially taking first place in the RMAC on the line, the first and second place teams were ready to face off in a tight game. After a strong fifth inning the Mavericks came away with the win by just 1 run.
Making the first run a fun one, Kacie Burger hit a homerun in the bottom of the second to put the Cougars ahead. Mesa responded the next inning and scored a run of their own after taking advantage of Colorado Christian letting up to tie up the game.
However taking the lead again in similar fashion was another homerun from Kacie Burger in the bottom of the fourth – this time bringing home Charlotte Romero who singled up the middle. Yet again the Mavericks responded in the next inning and a three run homer put them ahead with the final score of 4-3.
It was a duel between the pitchers as both teams were only able to tally 5 hits on the game. Kenzie Mattey held strong on the mound with 8 strikeouts and pulling through in tough situations, but took the loss to give her a record of 16-5.
The Maverick win sealed their first place standings in the RMAC, meaning the Cougars will be headed to Grand Junction next weekend for the conference tournament.
GAME 2 VS NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS: W 13-1
After awarding their favorite professors, the Cougars showed off and came back out in full force and took the win against the Cowgirls in just five innings.
Jennifer Romero got the game going on the mound and started the inning with 2 strikeouts, going three up three down in the first. In the bottom of the inning the maintained the momentum and scored four. Hanna Farmer was the first to make it home after walking, stealing second, and making it home after Stephanie Day doubled. Day was quick to make it home as Charlotte Romero brought in the second run with a single. Caitlin McCarthy then walked, and was brought home for the final run of the inning after Carly Perry landed a 2 RBI double.
Striking out three more in the second inning, Jennifer Romero was off to a great start. Colorado Christian was back to the top of their lineup in the bottom of the second, making Hanna Farmer the first to score in the inning again. She singled, stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kendall Yasui then made it to first after walking. Farmer then made it home after some confusion from the Cowgirls as Stephanie Day grounded out, also advancing Yasui to third. Yasui was the final run of the inning after Charlotte Romero singled up the middle, making the score 6-0 going into the third.
New Mexico Highlands took advantage of an error in the top of the third to score their one and only run of the game.
With a 7 run inning for their last round of at-bats, the Cougars finished out strong. Stephanie Day got the stretch started with a 2 run homerun, and Charlotte Romero followed her with a homerun of her own. Kacie Burger then singled, and Piper Lujan hit the third homerun of the inning to put them up by 10. Jamie Romero was the next to score after making it to first after walk, then coming home after a triple from Hanna Farmer. Farmer then took claim to the first and last run of the game after Kendall Yasui brought her home with a single.
UP NEXT: The split on the day gives the Cougars an overall record of 34-13 and an RMAC record of 27-7. The team will celebrate their seniors before their first game tomorrow as they close out their regular season. Facing New Mexico Highlands at 11am and Colorado Mesa at 3pm, Colorado Christian is ready to go on and make their mark in post-season.
