LAKEWOOD, CO – The Cougars finished up the regular season at home as they hosted N.M. Highlands for two more games and celebrated the seniors that are finishing their time with the team.

SENIOR DAY QUOTE FROM THE COACH: Today we are honoring five outstanding student athletes, all of them have done extremely well academically and they are outstanding softball players. Kacie Burger – power arm, power bat, outstanding defender and extremely hard worker who has had her career challenged by injuries and COVID but was still one of our programs fiercest competitors. Stephanie Day – All American player, team captain, spiritual leader, great hitter and unbelievable love for the program and university. Caitie McCarthy – best catcher in the conference. Clutch hitter, outstanding knowledge of the game, and a true team player and leader. Sydney Rawlings – outstanding competitor, rubber arm that can pitch in every role, loves to pitch and always wants the ball. Jenni Romero – has been a huge asset in the circle over the last four years as one of the most successful pitchers in the conference and has led us to many victories! They will all be missed. - Head Coach Larry Hays 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

GAME ONE: The first game was all Cougars, with Colorado Christian getting on the board in the second inning which started with a single up the middle from Kaelin Morkisch, Kenzie Middleton came to the plate with the bases loaded and proceeded to deposit the ball 30 feet over the fence and gave the Cougars a 6-0 lead and also set the tone for the Cougars offense. Samaria Roope continued the scoring with a RBI single, Caitlin McCarthy hit her first home run of the season to left center and Morkisch, hitting for the second time in the inning brought home the 10th and 11th runs.

The Cowgirls put three runs on the board in the top of the third, and so the Cougars proceeded to score four more runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a Stephanie Day single, a Piper Lujan two run home run and a Kiah Parker sac fly.

Middleton homered again in the fourth inning to bring the score to 16-3. Highlands scored again in the fifth but it was not enough to avoid the mercy rule.

COUGAR LEADERS: Kenzie Middleton had five RBI to go along with her two home runs. Kaelin Morkisch also had four RBI for the Cougars. Caitlin McCarthy had three hits for the Cougars.

In the circle Sydney Rawlings pitched all five innings for the Cougars with two strikeouts and getting her first win of the year.

GAME TWO: The final game at All Star park this season was a bit closer, with the long ball dominating the game. New Mexico Highlands got on the board first with a two run home run in the first inning. The Cougars responded in the bottom of the first with home runs from Kenzie Middleton and Piper Lujan.

The Cowgirls took the lead again in the third inning with a three run outburst that put them ahead once again and may have reminded some of how the second game yesterday had gone. The Cougars were not seeing ghosts of games past however as they took the lead for good with a four run third inning highlighted by a Caitlin McCarthy ground rule double to left center field, just missing her second home run of the day. Piper Lujan did connect with her second home run of the game in the sixth to give the Cougars insurance runs as they led 8-5.

COUGAR LEADERS: Piper Lujan led the team with two hits, both being home runs and three RBI. Kenzie Middleton had two RBI.

In the circle, Samaria Roope threw 6.0 innings with two strikeouts and allowing nine hits while getting her sixth win. Sydney Rawlings pitched the seventh inning with one strikeout and recording her first save of the season.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

UP NEXT: The Cougars will travel to Colorado Mesa this week to start the RMAC tournament. The first games will be on Thursday.