LAS VEGAS, NM- Colorado Christian opened RMAC play on the road Friday at New Mexico Highlands with an afternoon doubleheader. The offense for CCU found new life, exploding for a pair of run-rule victories by scores of 10-0 and 16-2 to start conference play 2-0.
GAME ONE
Kaila Easburn got the offense going right away with an RBI single in the first inning, and
Leah Garcia roped a two-RBI double to make it 3-0 after one.
Cheyenne Stark notched an RBI with a sac fly while
Danae Lopez singled in another run for a 5-0 advantage.
Garcia put things out of reach with a huge two-run home run to left field as CCU took a commanding 7-0 lead. Eastburn doubled home the eighth run of the game, and
Rachel Williams doubled in another run in the fourth. Lopez closed the scoring with an RBI single as the visitors ran away with a 10-0 run-rule victory.
Hanna Espinoza picked up the win in the circle with 3 strikeouts in 3 innings pitched, while
Carson Griggs closed things out with a 3 strikeout 1.2 inning performance. Garcia paced the offense with a 4 RBI performance, while Eastburn and Lopez notched 2 RBI apiece.
GAME TWO
The offense got going quickly in game two as
Camryn Quilling blasted a solo homer to left field in the first. NMHU responded with a pair of runs to take the lead 2-1 after one inning, but that was all they would manage to score the rest of the game.
Lauren Garcia doubled home the tying run while a passed ball scored Quilling for a 3-2 lead.
Elyse McMullin singled in a run and Eastburn notched a sac fly to make it 5-2 after four.
The sixth inning was a huge one for CCU as they exploded for 11 runs. Eastburn began the barrage with a three-run bomb, and Williams followed with a solo shot to make it 9-2. Lopez tripled home another run while
Peyton Marvel singled home run number 11. McMullin proceeded to uncork a long three-run homer to send the team through the entire order and back to Eastburn. The graduate student recorded a rare two homer inning with a two-run blast that sent CCU to their final score of 16-2 as they took care of the Cowgirls in six innings.
Emma Duncan went 5 strong innings to secure the win, stroking out 7 batters on 101 pitches. Eastburn had a monster game with 6 RBI on two home runs, while McMullin tallied four RBI of her own with a big three-run blast.
The Cougars will close their four-game set with the Cowgirls on February 15 with another doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. MST.
