LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars continued play against UCCS on Friday with a doubleheader at All Star Park. The games were as thrilling as you could ask for, as both contests went into extra innings with a 5-3 Mountain Lion win in 10 innings followed by a walkoff Cougars victory 8-7 in eight innings.
GAME ONE
The offense got right to work in the first inning, plating a run on an RBI double from
Major Maydon.
Jonny Tewinkle notched an RBI on a fielder's choice to send the home team ahead 2-0 after one.
Aaron Morgan stretched the lead to 3-0 in the third as he blasted a solo home run to left centerfield. UCCS rallied back for a pair of runs in the fourth before an untimely error tied things at 3 apiece in the fifth. The game continued into extra innings, as the teams battled for an advantage. The Mountain Lions broke through in the 10th on an RBI fielder's choice and single. CCU was unable to plate any runs in the bottom half of the inning as UCCS held on for a 5-3 extra inning win.
Brady Ritzmann was strong on the mound, going six innings with four strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed.
Jaxon Simmons put in quality work in relief, going five innings as well with just two runs allowed and three strikeouts. The offense remained balanced as three different players notched an RBI.
GAME TWO
The second contest was another instant classic as the two evenly matched teams battled once again. Once again the home team struck first, as an error allowed
Kade Carney to score on a groundout from
Caden Walton. Walton tallied an RBI with a triple in the second to score two more runs. Tewinkle made it 4-0 in the third as he singled in another run.
UCCS used a big fourth inning to tie the game at 4 apiece, but
Cole Douglass made sure it did not remain tied long with a solo shot to right field. The Mountain Lions plated a timely run in the seventh to make it 5-5 and send the game into extra innings.
The visitors scored two runs in the eighth as the Cougars needed a big rally to tie or claim the win in the bottom half of the inning.
Tucker Willingham started the inning with a single, and Tewinkle followed with a single of his own to put runners at the corners with no one out.
Gavin Acosta put down a sacrifice bunt as the pinch runner
Dorian Pacheco raced home to make it 7-6. Douglass came through in the clutch, ripped a double to left center to tie the game at 7 apiece. Douglass advanced to third on a groundout as
Luke Thompson came to the plate with two outs. The senior stayed patient and lined a strike into right field to send the Cougars into a frenzy with the walkoff 8-7 win.
Jake Gimbel got the start, pitching 5 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Chaz Graham put in an inning of work with no runs allowed, and
Anthony Thomas claimed the win with two innings of work. Walton and Douglass powered the offense, tallying a pair of RBI apiece.
Colorado Christian will close their series against the Mountain Lions on March 30 with first pitch set for 1 p.m. MST at All Star Park.
