Colorado Christian vs. Colorado Mesa
Saturday, April 24 | 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 25 | 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Grand Junction, CO
Fans will be allowed
- The Cougars have not played the Mavericks since April 27, 2019
- The Cougars are 3-7 over their past 10 matchups against Colorado Mesa
- The Mavericks and the Cougars are the top two teams currently in the RMAC
Follow Along:
Live Stats
RMAC Network
COUGAR LEADERS
The two leading hitters for the Cougars have been leading the way this season, with Piper Lujan and Sydney Reamer pacing the Cougars offense this season. Lujan is hitting .439 with eight home runs and 39 RBI along with a 1.288 OPS, all numbers which lead the team. Reamer has lead off for the Cougars most of the season and is hitting .429 with 13 doubles and seven home runs as well as a .496 on base percentage.
RETURNING SENIORS
The Cougars will have two of their best players returning this season, Stephanie Day and Caitlin McCarthy. Both players were seniors last season but due to COVID-19 ending the spring season prematurely all spring sport athletes were granted an extra season of athletic eligibility. Day and McCarthy both decided to return for one more season to help lead the Cougars to the top of the RMAC by the end of the season.
In her fifth season, Day is hitting .386 with nine doubles and 24 RBI while starting every game. Coming towards the end of the season Day is in the top three of almost every career offensive record for the Cougars including the all-leader in games played, home runs, total bases, and RBI. McCarthy has also started every game at catcher, and has posted a .378 average with 30 RBI and has only struck out twice in 90 at bats.
EXCITING NEWCOMERS
Transfer Julie Katz has already made her impact with the team, throwing three complete games in eight starts and has a 3.70 ERA with 42 strikeouts.
Junior transfer Kaelin Morkisch has been hitting well for the Cougars, with a .333 batting average with three extra base hits and 11 RBI and four stolen bases.
Freshman Kayla and Kenzie Middleton also will be seeing plenty of at bats this season. The freshman from Golden High School have started in all 12 games this season.
Kenzie Middleton has five home runs and 22 RBI with a .400 batting average. Middleton also has the second longest on base streak in school history as she has reached safely in 27 games
Kayla Middleton also hit a home run and is hitting .379 with 21 RBI and has hit two triples.
MOMENTUM FROM LAST SEASON
The Cougars finished the shortened 2020 season in a tie for first place in the RMAC in large part because the Cougars went 11-2 to end the season. Currently on a seven game win streak after sweeping MSU Denver in two games and Adams State in four, the Cougars will take on first place Colorado Mesa Mavericks who they are one game back in the loss column. Whoever wins the series will take control of their destiny heading into the final week of the regular season.
RMAC STANDINGS
HEAD COACH – LARRY HAYS
A resume filled with outstanding accomplishments, Larry Hays finished his second year as the Colorado Christian head softball coach in 2020.
A shortened season, he led the team to a 20-7 record and tied for the lead in the RMAC and created a high powered offense that was second in the nation in runs.
During his first season he led the squad to a second-place finish in the RMAC while coaching six all-conference players. Four players earned all-region accolades while one, Stephanie Day, earned All-American honors.
As a collegiate women's softball coach in 2010, Hays led the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps to a 54-7 record and an NAIA National Championship. He has coached baseball for 15 years at Lubbock Christian and for 21 years at Texas Tech compiling a remarkable 1509-860 record over those years. Additionally, Hays has coached men's & women's basketball at Lubbock Christian and served as their Athletic Director for eight years.
In addition to winning multiple conference and national championships, Hays has received numerous personal awards including the following: Southwest Conference Baseball Coach of the Year, Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year, NAIA Hall of Fame Inductee, Texas Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee, National College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.
SCHEDULE: The Cougars will be playing in 44 games this season, 40 conference games along with four non-conference games. The Cougars will be allowing small amounts of fans at home games with proper social distancing policies in place at All-Star Park.
