It was another busy week in CCU Athletics, as all six teams actively competing were in action over the weekend. Women's and Men's basketball had a pair of road trips to Pueblo and New Mexico, Track & Field was in Kansas and Boston, while Baseball was in Oklahoma and softball competed in California. Baseball picked up a thrilling victory with a ninth inning rally, track & field saw four NCAA Provisional Times posted, and softball won 6 games during the week to improve their record to 10-2.
Women's Track & Field Recap 2/11
PITTSBURG, KS- Track & Field made the trip to Pittsburg for the Gorilla Classic. They saw several strong finishes in a busy weekend of running for the Cougars.
For the first time this year, the ladies took part in the 4,000 meter medley, and they impressed with a seventh place finish. The combination of Molly Miller, Tara Smoker, Michelle Kuipers and Shannon King ran to a time of 12:14 to post a strong showing.
Hannah George ran the 60m, qualifying 31st with a mark of eight seconds flat. In the triple jump, Ashley Vil leaped 35'6" for a 17ty place finish overall.
Four runners took part in the mile, led by Molly Miller who came in 18th after a 5:06.84 finish. Sarah Hamlin claimed 50th with a 5:23.21, while Nora Thompson came in 69th after a 5:38.3 finish. Beth Pierantoni closed out the mile with a 72nd place spot after a run of 5:45.73.
Tara Smoker ran the 800m, claiming 17th with a tally of 58.18. The 800m saw three Cougar runners, and Michelle Kuipers led the pack in 23rd with a time of 2:19.34. Reagan Boling took 48th at 2:23.15 while Benisa Ellis claimed 50th with a time of 2:23.42.
Closing out the day, the 3000m was a popular race for CCU, as they saw six athletes compete in the event. Elizabeth Mattson claimed eighth with a time of 10:09.13 in an impressive showing. Callie Ketner followed with a 10:21.81 for 14th, and Alayna Wallace placed 23rd with a mark of 10:31.28. Sarah Hamlin took 37th with a 10:49.8, and Beth Pierantoni placed 40th with a 10:57.37. Nora Thompson secured 42nd with a 11:00.14.
The Cougars now will prepare for the Indoor RMAC Championships that will take place in Alamosa on February 24-25.
Men's Track & Field Recap 2/11
PITTSBURG, KS | BOSTON, MA- Men's Track & Field had a very busy weekend, sending two groups of runners to Kansas and Boston. Both states saw some fast running Cougars as CCU took part in their final meets of the Indoor season before conference championships.
Tyler Bradley brought the speed in the 60m in Kansas, running a 6.93 for 12th place overall. The time was good for a personal best as Bradley broke his own school record. In the 600m Gabe Ring and Nate Johnson placed 16th and 25th respectively with times of 1:14.86 and 1:16.7. Bradley also ran the 200m, finishing 23rd with a time of 21.93.
In the 5000m, Luke Meyer led the way with a 20th place finish in a time of 14:58.06. Caleb Hershey followed in 34th with a mark of 15L18.02, while Noah Burroughs came in 61st with a run of 16:28.74.
In the mile, Ethan Wampler 77th with a run of 4:32.39, and Kale Edmonds took 80th with a 4:37.56. Jacob Marker ran the 800m, placing 54th with a time of 1:58.72. In the 3,000m, it was Wampler leading the way with an 8:44.41 for 29th. Tate Fletcher took 52nd with an 8:58.54, while Edmonds took 57th with a 9:09.17.
Boston saw four incredible races that all yielded NCAA Provisional Times. Hudson Majeski ran the mile, flying to a time of 4:05 to secure a provisional time for his efforts. Matthew Storer continues to impress, breaking his own 5k record with a 13:56 to pick up an NCAA Provisional Time himself.
Two more Provisional Times came in the 3000m. Trent Cochran ran an 8:10, while Isaac Russo posted an 8:11. These times put them both in a good spot for potential qualification to the NCAA Championships.
Next up is the Indoor RMAC Championships hosted by Adams State in Alamosa, CO on February 24-25.
Baseball Recap 2/11
Durant, OK- After a tough loss to open the series against Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the Cougars stunned the Savage Storm with a 5- run-ninth inning come back to win the game. The Cougars were down the whole game but found a way to fight out another victory early in this 2023 campaign. The Cougar's offense struggled early game getting just 1 run through 8 innings. In the 9th inning, the offense came alive to score 5 runs to take the lead. In the ninth inning, the Cougars had 4 hits including the go-ahead 3-run home run by senior catch/Dh Jordan Medina. Pitcher JC Watne slammed the door on the Storm by pitching a nearly perfect 9th inning to record his second save of the year. This is the second huge comeback for the Cougars this season. The Cougars are making a name for themselves as a team that never gives up. CCU held on to win in a final score of 6-4.
Robby Caro performed excellently in his second start of the year. He gave up 2 runs while throwing 5 quality innings for the Cougars. Jacob Gimbel toed the mound in relief, throwing the critical mid-game innings, while only giving up 1 earned run. After a huge offensive inning, JC Watne entered the game in the 9th inning and helped the team secure the big win.
The middle of the Cougars lineup provided the late burst of offense which led to the win. In the 9th inning, Luke Thompson, Boedy Flores, and Jordan Medina recorded huge hits to help the Cougars take the lead. Aaron Morgan and Luke Thompson both recorded a multi-hit game. No hit, however, for the Cougars, was as big as Jordan Medina's 3-run Home Run.
The Cougars tied up the series with the Storm with this huge win.
CCU could not transfer the momentum they built from winning game one of Saturday's doubleheaders. CCU lost the second game in a high-powered offense battle. The Cougars fell with a final score of 22-9.
CCU had 3 long home runs in the game from catcher Jordan Medina, outfielder Gabe Ramos, and outfielder Russell Cruz. Offensively the Cougars produced 9 runs in the shortened 7-inning game. Jordan Medina was the lone Cougar with multiple hits.
The Cougar's pitching was unable to slow down the Southeastern Oklahoma State Storm. CCU was able to score 5 runs in the 4th inning but from there were not able to hold the lead. The Cougars will return Sunday at 10 am in hopes of evening the series and heading back to Colorado with a win.
Highlights from the day:
Jordan Medina - 4 hits (2 in each game), 2 Home Runs (1 in each game) including a 3-run game winning go ahead homer in game 1.
Robby Caro- 5 Innings, 2 runs, 1 earned run
JC Watne- 1 Inning, 1 save, 0 hits, 0 runs
Softball Recap 2/11
IRVINE, CA- The Cougars closed their California road trip on Saturday, taking on #19 Concordia University Irvine. In a pair of thrilling matchups, CCU took down the Golden Eagles 2-0 and 3-2, with both games going to 10 innings.
GAME ONE
The first contest of the day was a pitching battle, as Kali Crandall faced off with the Golden Eagles Kaitlin Entrup. Crandall did not allow a run through six innings, allowing just one hit as it stood knotted at 0-0 going to the seventh. Things stood pat from there, as both pitchers refused to let up. In the tenth inning, the last out of the previous inning starts at second base, and the Cougars took advantage. A sacrifice bunt sent Miki Berg to third, and Logan Menzies looped a single to score the first run of the game. Kenzie Middleton then ripped a double to bring Menzies all the way around from first to make it 2-0. A nice play at the plate from Middleton resulted in an out when a runner tried to come home, and Crandall closed the 10 inning game with a shutout victory for her team. Crandall went 10 innings and tied her own school record with 15 strikeouts on just three hits allowed in yet another dominant performance. Menzies came through for her team to give the lead that would lead to the 2-0 victory.
GAME TWO
The second contest had a different feel to it, as CCU jumped ahead early on an RBI single from Taylor Olsen. Camryn Quilling smacked a double to make it 2-0 in the fourth, but things slowed down from there. Heading to the bottom of the seventh the Cougars still held a 2-0 advantage, but the Golden Eagles were able to even the score in the seventh and sent the game to extra innings. The first two innings remained scoreless aided by some tremendous defense by the Cougars, and for the second straight game the two teams went to the 10th. Leah Garcia was the one who came through, smacking a double to make it 3-2 in favor of CCU. Samaria Roope sealed the deal, inducing consecutive groundouts to send her team to a 3-2 victory and their 10th straight win.
Roope secured the win with 3.2 innings of work, while Alexis Hamilton and Abrie Castillo saw action, with Castillo starting the first three innings before Hamilton pitched 3.1 innings. Garcia, Olsen and Quilling each picked up an RBI for their team, helping them to an impressive doubleheader sweep over the #19 team in the country.
CCU has concluded their California road trip, going an impressive 10-2 as they get set for conference play. RMAC competition begins with a home series against Chadron State on February 18, with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. MST.
Another busy week awaits as basketball plays at nearby Colorado School of Mines and MSU Denver on Friday and Saturday, while softball hosts Chadron State in their RMAC opener on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to head on out and support your Cougars as basketball season reaches its' final few weeks, and softball season begins conference play.
