DENVER, CO- The Cougars traveled to nearby MSU Denver on Friday night for a battle under the lights against the Roadrunners. CCU fought all the way into extra innings, but the hosts were able to walk it off in the bottom of the 10th for a 4-3 victory.
The Roadrunners got on the board in the first with an RBI single to take a 1-0 advantage, but the Cougars would strike back. A three-run third began with an RBI single from
Gregory Rangel to plate
Ethan Kang.
Mason Hagel-Pitt stepped up and delivered a run-scoring double as
Lukas Hinze crossed home.
Aidan Welsh notched a sac fly as Rangel raced home for a 3-1 lead after three innings.
Zachary Hill did an outstanding job quieting a Roadrunners offense that scored 68 runs in their previous four-game series at New Mexico Highlands. The senior hurler went 6.0 strong innings while scattering six hits with just three runs allowed on the night to give his team a chance to win. A homer in the sixth and an error from the Cougar defense allowed MSUD to tie the game at 3-3 as the final three innings arrived.
Cody Hill relieved his teammate on the mound to start the seventh and pitched three scoreless frames. The hosts nearly took a lead in the eighth, but Cody pitched his way out of runners at second and third by inducing a pivotal popup to keep things level at 3-3.
Neither offense could get anything going as the two sides battled into extra innings. CCU could not plate any runs in their half of the 10th, and MSU Denver found themselves in business after
Dylan Novotny issued a walk and hit the next batter. After a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out, CCU elected to intentionally walk the next batter to set up a chance for a double play. Unfortunately, a bases loaded walk ended the game in walkoff fashion as the Cougars narrowly fell 4-3.
A strong pitching effort kept things tight throughout as the Cougars nearly upended the Roadrunners who currently boast a perfect conference mark. Rangel, Hagel-Pitt and Welsh all notched RBI in the third to put their team ahead.
CCU will look to bounce back with a doubleheader at Assembly Athletic Complex Baseball Field tomorrow, April 11 at 1 and 4 p.m. MDT.
