LAKEWOOD, CO – Heading into the second day of their season opening weekend, the Cougars were looking to play a doubleheader but overnight snow limited Sunday's contest to a scheduled nine-inning contest.
Colorado Christian put themselves in position for a win against Northern Colorado but, the NCAA Division I opponent put up crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the later innings to post a 17-10 seven-inning victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The overarching theme of the game was which team found the strike zone. During the Cougars scoring exploits in the middle innings, they were able to bang out consecutive hits off three separate pitchers. Conversely the Colorado Christian hurlers had trouble finding the strike zone as they walked 14 batters; nine of which came in the fifth and sixth innings.
Despite trailing by four runs after the top of the third inning, the Cougars put themselves in good position for a victory as they went ahead 8-4 with a pair of runs in their half of the third inning then a six-spot on the scoreboard in the fourth frame.
However, the home team's good fortunate ended there. Northern Colorado scored the game's next 13 runs to go on top 17-8 as the game entered the bottom of the seventh. Colorado Christian scored twice in the stanza but any attempt for a comeback was ended at that point because the game was called because of darkness.
COUGAR LEADERS: Tommy Orr had a team high three hits while scoring a pair of runs. The group of Caden Walton, Sam Gallegos, Eli Ludwig and Frankie Shearn III each had a pair of hits.
Gallegos had a pair of RBIs with a two-run homerun in the fourth inning.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The game took 3:34 to complete
- Colorado Christian starter Devin Sutorius had seven strikeouts in four innings
- 372 pitches were thrown in the game (203 strikes, 169 balls)
- Nine pitchers were used; only one didn't give-up a run
UP NEXT: The Cougars are slated to start RMAC play with New Mexico Highlands on Friday, March 5 at All Star Park.
