DENVER, CO- Colorado Christian returned to downtown to take on crosstown rivals MSU Denver for a set of doubleheader games Saturday afternoon. After dropping the first game of the day in walk-off fashion 4-3, the Cougars managed to get the second game over the Roadrunners, winning the game 7-6.

GAME ONE
The Cougars did well to start the game getting runners on the bases, but couldn't convert and left them stranded. The hosts got on the board first with a single up the middle to center field. Two more runs would be added to the scoreboard for the Roadrunners in the second inning.

MSUD would have two infield errors that would help CCU get a run in, Nathan Mensen reaching second base, and Brandon de Hondol reaching first and getting Mensen across home plate on the fielder's choice. Later on in the sixth inning, Tanner Rae came in to pinch hit and got a single to the outfield and came in to score from Jordin Albertson who reached first on another error from MSUD. One inning later, Cade Lacy ripped the ball to left center for an RBI double scoring Rangel tying the game 3-3. However, the hosts got their chance and walked it off to win the game 4-3.

Albertson, de Hondol, and Lacy each had an RBI, and Mason Hagel-Pitt collected two hits. 

GAME TWO
The Roadrunners started off the game with a sacrifice fly out, but CCU would quickly respond in the top of the second with Rae drilling a two-run home run taking the lead 2-1. The hosts would respond back with a home run of their own, only a solo shot to right field tying the game.

It was a home run derby early in downtown Denver as the Cougars got themselves another two-run home run from Cade Lacy. MSUD responded with three runs in the third to retake the lead for a few innings before Aidan Welsh singled to left field, scoring Lacy to tie the game once again 5-5. 

The Roadrunners would get the go ahead run over with a single to first that got past the glove of Welsh at first base. Down to the wire in the seventh inning, Hagel-Pitt collected a triple to start things off for the rally. Welsh took one for the team for a hit by pitch, and Mensen walked on four pitches. With the bases loaded and the Cougars down to their last out, MSUD couldn't find the strike zone and walked Nathan Owens on a full count pitch to tie the game 6-6 and send the game into extra innings for the second time this series.

In the top of the eighth inning, sophomore Gregory Rangel came through in the clutch, driving a solo home run to give the Cougars the lead over MSUD. The hosts tried to rally back, but Welsh tracked a foul ball and snared it to secure the win for CCU 7-6 over MSUD.

Caleb Perry picked up the win for the Cougars, pitching 3.0 innings while only allowing two hits, no runs and two strikeouts. Three Cougars picked up home runs, and as a team the offense racked up 11 hits. The Cougars gave MSUD their first conference loss of the season and snapped their 16-game win streak.

The two teams will battle again tomorrow April 12 in the series finale, with CCU looking to split back-to-back conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. MDT.