GOLDEN, CO- The Cougars closed their series with Mines on Sunday with another doubleheader at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field. Led by an explosive run-rule victory in game one 13-6 and a low scoring 3-1 win in game two, CCU ran their win streak to 26 games and 20 straight in league play.
GAME ONE
The Orediggers struck first in game one as they scored on a passed ball in the first inning, but CCU responded in the second as
Peyton Marvel doubled
Leah Garcia home. Marvel came around to score on a double steal as
Paisley Williamson swiped second, and
Kat Hanson drove her in with a single moments later to make it 3-1.
Mines roared back into the lead in the third with a single and two doubles to go on top 5-3, but the Cougars began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Garica to bring things to within 5-4.
Elyse McMullin would tie things in the fourth as she smacked an RBI double to left centerfield, and a batter later
Felesha LePenske helped her cause in the circle with a momentum shifting three-run homer to send CCU ahead 8-5.
Arriana Wright added an insurance run in the fifth with a sac fly for a 9-5 lead, and the offense would put things away an inning early in the sixth. Marvel began the surge with an RBI single, and Hanson doubled home two more as she continued a torrid series at the plate and put her team a run away from mercy-ruling the Orediggers. Wright provided the 13th run of the game for her team on another sac fly as the Cougars run-ruled Mines 13-5.
Hanson went 4-5 at the plate with 3 RBI in the leadoff position, and LePenske provided a spark with her three-run tiebreaking blast. Felesha claimed her 11th win in the circle as she remains perfect on the season.
GAME TWO
Looking for the series sweep in game two of the day, CCU jumped on top on a LePenske single in the first for a 1-0 advantage. A pitching duel ensued as McMullin battled Taylor Wayne for Mines through three scoreless innings. Mines broke through in the fourth with an RBI double to tie the game, but the Cougars answered right back.
Garcia managed to race home on a passed ball after she singled to get on base. Leading 2-1, Marvel was able to touch home on a fielder's choice as the Cougars grabbed a two-run lead. McMullin made it hold up, impressively setting down the entirety of the Mines lineup in order in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings to lead her team to the 3-1 victory and series sweep.
It was a lower scoring affair than CCU is used to, but they found a way when it mattered most and played good defense to preserve the win. McMullin notched win #6 in the circle with no losses this year in another impressive outing.
The league leading Cougars will take their 20-0 conference mark to 11th place Chadron State for a four-game set starting March 27 at 12 p.m. MDT.
