IRVINE, CA- The Cougars closed the Concordia Kickoff Classic on Sunday with a matchup at the Orange County Great Park against Hawaii Pacific University. CCU jumped all over the Sharks early with six runs in the first inning en route to a 10-4 win to finish with a perfect 4-0 record in tournament play.
Colorado Christian took immediate control off the bat of Kaila Eastburn, as she sent a ball over the left centerfield wall for a two-run homer in the first. Mia Stankiewicz continued the onslaught with a two-run double moments later to give her team the 4-0 lead, and Leah Garcia singled home two more to send the Cougars ahead 6-0 after one inning.
HPU tacked on three runs in the second, but CCU quickly responded in the third. Camryn Quilling doubled Sami Edwards home, and Kenzie Middleton walked to score another run. Kayla Middleton singled home Quilling to put the game out of hand at 9-3.
Quilling tacked on the final run of the game with another bases loaded walk as Colorado Christian dominated from start to finish in a 10-4 victory over Hawaii Pacific.
Emma Duncan closed her excellent tournament with another victory, bringing her win total on the year to 3-0. Duncan went five innings with just four hits allowed and four strikeouts. Carson Griggs closed out the final two innings allowing just two hits to close out the Sharks.
At the end of the CUI Kickoff Classic, the Cougars finished as Tournament Runner-Ups after tying in overall record with Western Washington but coming in second after a total run tiebreak. It is an outstanding result for CCU as they showed early on that they can beat anyone, including a big victory over #7 Cal State San Marcos on Saturday.
Four Cougars were named to the All-Tournament Team, starting with Duncan being named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the Tourney. She claimed three victories over the weekend, striking out 10 batters to start her time at CCU on a tear. Kayla Middleton was named to the All-Tournament Team after a pair of massive homers on Saturday and a total of 6 RBI. Kenzie Middleton made the team with a strong start to the season with 3 RBI, while Stankiewicz hit a homer in her first at bat of the season and finished with 3 RBI over four games to earn a spot on the all-tournament team.
Colorado Christian will close out their trip to California with a pair of neutral site matchups against Hawaii Pacific and Northwest Nazarene on February 6 at the Cal State San Marcos softball field.
