LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars began the 2026 season on Friday afternoon at All Star Park with a matchup against Northwestern Oklahoma State University. CCU led for a good part of the contest, but a tough eighth inning was the difference in an 11-5 setback. 

Brady Ritzmann took the mound for the Cougars, shutting out the Rangers the first two innings of play. Landry Hamm struck first for the hosts, singling home Nathan Owens in the second for the 1-0 lead. NWOSU answered with an RBI single in the third to tie things up, but CCU came right back as an Austin DeMello RBI single restored the lead 2-1. The visitors singled home a run in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. 

Colorado Christian used a big sixth inning to take control, starting with an RBI double from Hamm. Lukas Hinze singled in a run, and Aidan Welsh smacked a ground-rule double to send his team ahead 5-2 after six innings of play. 

The Rangers narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the seventh, and they flipped the momentum with a massive eighth inning that saw them score seven runs on a pair of walks, a sac fly and a grand slam to seize control 11-5. The Cougars offense got several runners on base, but could not score in the final two innings as they eventually fell 11-5. 

Ritzmann had a strong season debut, going four innings with just one run allowed and five strikeouts. Hamm led the offensive effort with a pair of RBI, while Hinze, Welsh and DeMello all had an RBI apiece. 

The Cougars will look to bounce back on January 31 with a doubleheader against the Rangers with start times set for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. MST from All Star Park.