CHADRON, NE- The Cougars opened play in Nebraska on Friday with a doubleheader at Chadron State. Led by timely hitting and clutch pitching in the circle, CCU claimed both games 15-3 and 10-9 over the hosts.
GAME ONE
The Eagles took an early lead with a two-run homer in the first inning, but the Cougars began to chip away the next inning.
Maya Schroeder doubled home
Leah Garcia in the second, and
Kat Hanson powered her team into the lead with a two-run homer in the third.
The hitting became contagious as Garcia lifted a two-run bomb moments later for the 5-2 advantage. Garcia notched an RBI single in the fifth, while two more runs crossed the plate on an error from the Chadron State defense.
Leading 9-2 heading to the seventh, the Cougars broke things wide open beginning with an RBI fielder's choice from
Elyse McMullin.
Arriana Wright followed with a two-run single, while
Felesha LePenske singled in another run to make it 13-2. Schroeder put the icing on the cake with a two-run blast of her own as CCU rolled their way to a 15-3 victory.
LePenske continued her perfect run in the circle to start the season, going the full seven innings while scattering 5 hits and notching 4 strikeouts to improve to 12-0. Garcia paced the offense with 4 RBI, while three Cougars lifted homers to power CCU to victory.
GAME TWO
LePenske started game two of the day with an RBI fielder's choice, but the Eagles answered right back with two runs in the bottom half of the first. Garcia knotted things up in the third with an RBI single as the two teams battled for an advantage.
Hanson put the Cougars back on top for good with a run-scoring single in the fourth, and Wright kept the scoring going with an RBI single of her own. Garcia continued the big inning with an RBI single as CCU kept tacking on more runs. Schroeder picked up a sac fly RBI and
Peyton Marvel singled in one more run to send her team into the lead 7-2.
Chadron State showed fight and resiliency with four runs in the fifth to get within 7-6, but the Cougars responded with an RBI single from Marvel in the sixth to make it 8-6.
Paisley Williamson singled Marvel home, and Hanson doubled in Williamson to make it 10-6. The Eagles once again rallied, plating three runs in the final frame before a popup to second ended the game in the Cougars favor 10-9.
Lisa Liddell picked up the win in the circle with 4.2 innings pitched with 5 strikeouts, while
Hanna Espinoza closed the final 2.1 innings to seal the victory. A balanced offensive attack saw Hanson, Garcia and Marvel each notch 2 RBI apiece.
Colorado Christian will close their four-game set at Chadron State tomorrow March 28 with another doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. MDT.
