LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars began a pivotal series with league leaders Colorado Mesa on Saturday as the two teams battled for the regular season RMAC crown. After a 2-1 setback in game one, CCU claimed a thrilling extra-inning 3-2 victory in 11 innings. 

GAME ONE 
The first contest of the day featured a pitchers duel as neither team gave up much defensively. The Mavericks managed to break through for a pair of runs in the third, and they continued to lead 2-0 heading to the sixth. 

Danae Lopez put her team on the board with an RBI single, but the hosts could not manage any more runs that inning. The bottom of the seventh saw three straight outs as the Cougars dropped game one 2-1. 

Elyse McMullin took the unfortunate loss despite going the entire seven innings with just two runs allowed and three strikeouts. 

GAME TWO
Game two was a battle to the very end as neither team went down without a fight. McMullin brought in the first run of the game in the third, but CMU responded with a pair of runs in the fifth off an error for the 2-1 lead. 

A Lopez sac fly in the sixth tied the game at 2-2 as the game headed to extras. The Cougars held Colorado Mesa at bay throughout extras, and excellent chances in the 9th and 10th slipped by for CCU. They did not let the opportunity pass them by in the 11th as Camryn Quilling and Sarah Dollerschell singled to start the inning. Peyton Marvel drew a walk before McMullin lifted a ball to right field for the walkoff sac fly as Quilling raced home for the exhilarating 3-2 victory in 11 innings. 

Emma Duncan was lights out as she went all 11 innings, tying a program record for innings pitched in a single game. The senior twirled 134 pitches, striking out four and allowing zero earned runs in the complete game victory. McMullin was the hero as she notched two RBI and the walkoff sacrifice fly. 

The two teams will battle once again with a doubleheader on April 13 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. MST at All Star Park.