ALBUQUERQUE, NM- Colorado Christian got the softball season underway this weekend with four contests in two days in the South Central Region Crossover. The Cougars got off to an excellent start, winning every game to improve to 4-0 to begin the year. 

DAY ONE: 
The first day of competition started with a contest against Western New Mexico University, and the Cougars got right to work in the bottom of the first. Piper Lujan drew a bases-loaded walk to score Sydney Reamer and a sacrifice fly from Samaria Roope and throwing error plated Sami Edwards and Kenzie Middleton. The Mustangs drew to within 3-2 in the second, but a double from Edwards scored Miki Berg to pull Colorado Christian ahead 4-2. The bottom of the third saw the Cougars bats roar to life as they picked up five hits and plated five more runs. Two more runs in the fifth inning gave Colorado Christian the victory via run-rule 11-3. 

Game two on Saturday came against the University of Texas Permian Basin, and once again the Cougars got to work early and often from the plate. A Kenzie Middleton double in the first inning plated two Cougars, and a second inning homer from Sydney Reamer with Kayla Middleton on base made the score 4-0. Colorado Christian really took over the game in the bottom of the fourth via the long ball. Taylor Olsen led off the inning with a blast and Kenzie Middleton put the game out of reach with a three-run shot to make it 8-0 as the Cougars won their second consecutive game via run-rule. Alexis Hamilton picked up the win on the mound with five dominant scoreless innings.

DAY TWO:
Game one on Sunday saw the Cougars once again take on the Falcons from Permian Basin. Colorado Christian could not push across a run through the first four innings, but the top of the fifth was a different story. Trailing 1-0, Miki Berg smacked a triple to score Kayla Middleton and tie the game. Sydney Reamer then picked up a double to score Berg and put her team in the lead. Kenzie Middleton then singled to plate Kaelin Morkisch, and a Piper Lujan double scored Sami Edwards to put the Cougars ahead 4-1. Leading 4-2 headed to the top of the seventh, Colorado Christian picked up two more insurance runs and closed out the 6-2 victory.

The final game of the weekend pitted the Cougars against the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds. Eastern New Mexico got off to a hot start, blasting a grand slam in the top of the first for a quick 4-0 lead. Colorado Christian did not flinch though, responding immediately in their half of the first. Kenzie Middleton tripled to score Reamer, and an Olsen single scored Middleton. Kayla Middleton then singled to score Lujan, and Samaria Roope smacked a double to put the Cougars ahead 5-4. In the second, Kenzie Middleton tripled to plate Edwards and Reamer, and Lujan picked up an RBI groundout. The Greyhounds clawed their way back to tie the game eight apiece, but once again the Cougars responded. Roope picked up an RBI groundout and Colorado Christian pulled off an impressive double-steal as Morkisch took second and Logan Menzies flew home for another run. Reamer singled Morkisch home as the lead grew to 11-8. Several more late runs gave Colorado Christian the 13-9 victory and a perfect 4-0 start to the year. 

UP NEXT- The Cougars will return to action February 11-13 at the Lubbock Sports College Invitational, starting with a contest on Friday against Oklahoma Baptist University at 9 a.m.