LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars opened play at Central Oklahoma on Friday with a pair of contests at Wendell Simmons field. After narrowly falling 1-0 in game one, CCU would fall in another tightly contested game two 7-4. 

GAME ONE 
The first contest of the day was a pitchers duel as the Bronchos starter and Brady Ritzmann were efficient on the mound. After neither team scored in the first three innings, an unfortunate error allowed UCO to get a runner on, and he scored the lone run of the game on a fielders' choice moments later. The Cougars pushed for a response, but in the end the hosts pitched their way to the 1-0 victory. 

Ritzmann went the entire six innings, striking out three and scattering seven hits with no earned runs allowed on 90 pitches thrown in a stellar start for #5. 

GAME TWO
The first game saw more robust offense as the Bronchos struck in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. They went ahead 2-0 in the fourth, but the Cougars had an answer in the fifth. 

They began their rally with a bases loaded RBI walk issued to Aidan Welsh, while Cade Lacy put his team ahead as he notched an RBI fielder's choice and an error allowed CCU to go ahead 3-2. Zach Valentine stepped in and smacked an RBI single as the visitors led 4-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Unfortunately, UCO had a quick response as they managed to plate five runs in their half of the fifth capped by a three-run homer as they took a 7-4 advantage. They closed it out the next two innings for the 7-4 victory. 

A trio of Cougars recorded an RBI as part of a big fifth inning rally to get their team back into the game and take the lead. 

The Cougars will look to bounce back on February 14 with a single game against the Bronchos slated for 11 a.m. MST.