LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars closed their conference opening series against New Mexico Highlands with a doubleheader on Sunday at All Star Park. CCU completed the series sweep, taking the first contest of the day 7-0 before pulling out a gutsy 2-1 victory for the 4-0 weekend. 

GAME ONE 
The first game got off to a furious start for the Cougars in the bottom of the first as leadoff hitter Kat Hanson blasted a solo homer to jumpstart things. After a Leah Garcia single to load the bases, Maya Schroeder stepped into the batters box, and the freshman blasted the first grand slam of her collegiate career to bring everybody home and make it 5-0. 

Things slowed from there as Elyse McMullin shut down the Cowgirls from the circle with a great mix of pitches to keep them off balance. CCU struck for two more runs in the fourth, starting with a Kat Hanson single to plate Abbie Walden. Arriana Wright closed the scoring with an RBI single of her own to score Hanson as the hosts held control throughout the contest and closed out the 7-0 victory. 

McMullin went the distance in a complete game shutout, taking her record to 3-0 on the season with a 0.00 ERA as she struck out 7 in a 104 pitch performance. Schroeder powered the offense with her first inning grand slam to put CCU in control in the commanding victory. 

GAME TWO
The final game of the series took on an entirely different complexion than the first game of the day, as the Cougars and Cowgirls found themselves in a pitchers duel throughout. Lisa Liddell and NMHU's Jolissa Valdez battled through inning after inning, shutting down their opponent through five innings of play.

The visitors finally broke through in the sixth off an RBI double to go ahead 1-0, but CCU answered when they needed to most. The bottom of the sixth started with a pop up, but after McMullin and Garcia walked and stole second, they stood on second and third with two outs. Schroeder once again was the hero, as the freshman showed poise in the pressure situation and smacked a two-run single to left field to give her team the 2-1 lead. Liddell closed it out in the seventh to complete the victory and series sweep. 

Liddell picked up the complete game victory with 105 pitches tossed, while Schroeder notched the only two RBI of the game as she came through in the clutch for her team. 

With a 4-0 record in conference play, CCU will head down to UCCS for a four game series February 27-28, starting with a doubleheader on Friday at 12 and 2 p.m. MST.