Lakewood, CO – The Cougars took on New Mexico Highlands Friday afternoon, taking on an important double header. The Cougars would spilt the double header, dropping the first game and rallying for a statement victory the next game.
Game One
After a quiet opening inning, the Cowboys would be the first to open the game in the second. A string of timely hits, capped by a three-run homer quickly put the Cowboys in front 6-0 and forced CCU to play catch-up early.
The deficit would hold firm for several innings, the Cougars eventually breaking through in the fourth. The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs before
Nathan Owens ripped a two-run single to right, cutting into the deficit and sparking life into the dugout.
Lukas Hinze would step up to the plate, bases loaded, delivering the biggest swing of the afternoon. Hinze launched a game-tying grand slam down the left field line to erase the six-run deficit and knot the game 6-6.
The momentum shift would completely reset the game for CCU, but it didn't take New Mexico Highlands long to respond. A defensive miscue in the sixth opened the door for the Cowboys to reclaim the lead, and they added two more in the seventh—again capitalizing on errors and timely hitting—to create enough separation to regain control.
The Cougars continued to battle late.
Mason Hagel-Pitt drove in a run in the ninth, and CCU put traffic on the bases in the final frame, but the comeback fell short, the Cougars falling 7-11.
Hinze led the offensive charge with a huge day at the plate, finishing with two hits and four RBIs, highlighted by the game-tying grand slam.
Nathan Mensen collected three hits, while Owens added two RBIs and
Mason Hagel-Pitt chipped in a pair of hits with a late RBI. On the mound,
Zachary Hill worked six innings and battled through traffic throughout the afternoon, while
Caleb Perry came on in relief for the final three frames.
Game Two
After surrendering an early run in the opening frame, CCU quickly settled in and responded with an offensive avalanche that Highlands simply couldn't slow down.
The Cougars got on the board in the second, capitalizing on defensive miscues before
Nathan Owens lifted a sacrifice fly to even things up and give CCU its first lead of the afternoon. Then came the third inning.
With the lineup firing on all cylinders, CCU erupted for six runs in a frame that completely shifted control. A passed ball brought in the first run before
Aidan Welsh ripped a two-run double to extend the advantage. Moments later,
Taylor McLeod followed with an RBI double of his own, and
Nathan Owens delivered the knockout swing—a two-run homer to left that pushed the Cougar lead to 8-1.
And they were far from finished.
The fourth inning brought even more fireworks as CCU piled on seven additional runs.
Taylor McLeod continued his huge afternoon with another two-run double,
Landry Hamm added an RBI single,
Gregory Rangel lifted a sacrifice fly, and
Mason Hagel-Pitt capped the inning with a two-run single as the Cougars blew the game wide open at 15-1.
From there, the Cougar offense kept applying pressure, adding one more in the sixth on
Cade Lacy's RBI double to cap off a 15-hit offensive showcase. The Cougars walked away with the victory 16-6.
Nearly every spot in the lineup contributed. McLeod turned in one of his best performances of the season, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two doubles. Hagel-Pitt added two hits and drove in a pair, while Owens finished with three RBIs, highlighted by his third-inning blast. Welsh added two RBIs, and Hinze scored twice while collecting a pair of doubles. On the mound,
Dylan Novotny delivered a complete-game effort to earn the win, working all seven innings while striking out five. Though Highlands mounted a few late pushes, Novotny stayed composed and gave the Cougars exactly the kind of steady outing they needed behind the explosive offensive support.
The Cougars are back out at All-Star Park for the second double-header against New Mexico Highalnds Saturday, May 2
nd. CCU needs both wins to keep their post-season hopes alive, with first pitch scheduled for 12 pm MDT.
