LAKEWOOD, CO – Their inaugural trip to the NCAA postseason came to a close sooner than they had hoped for.

Colorado Christian first ever RMAC tournament appearance came to an end as No. 17 MSU Denver posted an 8-3 victory

The Cougars found themselves playing a nationally ranked team for the second straight in the win or go home game since fifth seeded CSU Pueblo upset the Roadrunners in their opening round game.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Roadrunners put together a two-run inning to start the game as the visiting team jumped out to a 2-0 edge. The score remained that way until MSU Denver's Alex Gonzales hit a two-RBI double in the fourth frame to increase their lead to four runs.

The big blow came in the fifth stanza as MSU Denver scored four times on another three-hit inning. In the bottom half of that inning Connor Marschall put the Cougars on the scoreboard as he hit a solo homerun over the left centerfield wall.

Colorado Christian added two more runs when Manny Thompson hit a two-out, opposite field double which scored Wyatt Crenshaw and Jordan Medina.

Starting pitcher Cade Crader kept the Cougar bats in check as the righthander struck out nine and allowed just five hits in his complete game, 131-pitch performance.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• The Cougars left six runners on base
• Each of the four Colorado Christian pitchers were seniors
• Crenshaw was the only Colorado Christian player to reach base twice