There was no quit in the Cougars as CCU baseball's 2019 season draws near an end, nearly rallying in the days first game, but falling short in the 7-9 loss, but finishing the day with five runs in their final two offensive frames, including a walk-off homerun from Hunter Hays to cap a 7-6 victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Game One: CCU 7 – Regis 9
 
The Rangers opened the scoring in the 2nd inning with a pair of singles bringing in as many runs. The Cougars would answer immediately with three runs of their own to give starting pitcher Evan Fink a rare lead to work with as the game continued. The two teams would go scoreless in the 3rd inning before CCU tacked on another run in the 4th to extend their lead to 4-2. The senior Evan Fink would allow one more run to score in the top of the 5^th on an RBI triple before he was relieved by Connor McCullom, but not before taking a well-earned, slow and emotional walk back to the dugout for the final time.
 
McCullum would retire the next two batters, preserving Finks chance at the win, but the Rangers would tag him for six more runs over the next three innings, building a 9-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th. Needing at least five runs in the frame to keep the game going, the Cougar bats went to work, being led off by senior catcher Joel Manzano's double to center field. He would eventually come around to score, and with one out and runners on first and second base, senior Alex Ginn came in to pinch hit. He would send a ball through the infield gap, scoring another run. Frankie Shearn III and Matt Kimura would plate another two runs, still leaving the Cougars with one out, but a line drive by Scotty Ingle that didn't quite enough air under it was caught by the Rangers shortstop who would proceed to tag up second base for the force out to end the game.
 
Senior Evan Fink ends his Cougar career with the most wins in program history with 13, also ranking second all-time in strikeouts with 145, and third all-time in total innings pitched and starts. Matt Kimura mashed his second homerun of the season, and brought two more across the plate later in the game. Joel Manzano continued his hot hitting streak, going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs.
 
 
Game Two: CCU 7 – Regis 6
 
Disappointed by the previous games outcome but refusing to allow it to define the day, the Cougars took the field for game two. The Rangers hot hitting continued early, scoring four runs in the first three innings to lead 4-0. Heads up baserunning on a failed pickoff move from Regis gave the Cougars their first score in the bottom of the 3rd inning, and a single from Heath Hays in the 4th would easily score Alex Ginn from third. The Rangers would get those two runs back with one swing in the top of the 5th inning, bringing their lead to four runs, 2-6. Colorado Christian would load the bases in the bottom of the inning but would leave those runners stranded. Regis would threaten with a runner at third in the top of the 5th, but a line-out, tag out at third would end their chance to extend the lead. CCU would storm back in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs, two on a long single down the left field line from Matt Kimura, and another pair off a Connor Marschall double down the same boundary line.
 
Kyler Riordan entered the game with the score tied with the goal of keeping it that way to give his team a chance to win it in the bottom half of the inning. Riordan would accomplish that goal somewhat comfortably, retiring three Rangers without the ball leaving the infield. Now with a chance to win it outright, the Cougars sent Hunter Hays to the plate to lead off the inning. On a 2-2 count and on the 7th pitch of the at-bat, Hays placed a perfect swing on a breaking ball that didn't break quite enough and sent a no-doubt homer over the left field fence. His bench rushed to homeplate and waited for him to finish his victory lap around the bases after notching his first collegiate walk-off hit.


 
On the day, Hunter Hays would dominate offensively, going a combined 6-for-7 from the plate with four runs scored, another three batted in, and a walk. Kyler Riordan would record his fourth win of the season, tying him with senior Alex Ginn for most this season.
 
WHAT IS NEXT:
 
The Cougars close out their season with a late afternoon game against the Rangers. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at All Star Park, but if you plan on attending the game, try to come early as five CCU seniors will be honored prior to the games start. Senior ceremonies are scheduled to begin at roughly 3:40 p.m.