CHADRON, Neb. – Colorado Christian excelled in the middle innings to run their win streak to 30 games by completing a four-game sweep over the Chadron State softball program with 6-3 and 7-0 wins on Saturday.
The Eagles (4-29, 4-20 RMAC) remained competitive against the No. 14-ranked Cougars (34-2, 24-0 RMAC), but CCU was fundamentally sound defensively and continued to string hits together, finishing with 25 across the doubleheader.
Chadron State threw up a first-inning zero in both contests, but the Cougars scored five of their six runs in innings 2-4 in the first game before tallying all seven of their runs in innings 3-5 in game two. The Eagles mounted a rally in the opener with a three-run sixth inning but were unable to score in the series finale.
Freshman pitcher
McKenna Sides kept CSC in both games on Saturday, coming on in relief of CSC starters twice and combining for five innings pitched without allowing an earned run. In game one, Sides pitched 2.2 innings, scattering five hits while only a single unearned run crossed the plate. In game two, she was even better, allowing just two hits in 2.1 scoreless innings.
The Eagles totaled 12 hits offensively, seven in game one and five in game two.
Elizabeth Thorngren tallied three hits, including a double, across both Saturday games while shortstop
Macie Selfors and right fielder
Izzy Thomas each had a multi-hit contest. Thomas, a true freshman from Cheyenne, Wyoming, also made some impressive defensive plays, including a full-extension diving catch over the foul line.
Belle Akins pitched 4.1 innings as the starter in game one, allowing five runs (four earned). Chadron State had only three hits up to that point, but threatened immediately in the sixth inning by loading the bases on singles by
Macie Selfors and
Brogan Allen sandwiched around an
Elizabeth Thorngren walk.
Payton Sullivan went to the opposite field, smacking a double to right center to bring home two runs and chase CSC starter Felesha Lepenske in favor of reliever Hanna Espinoza. Chadron State drove home another run courtesy of an RBI groundout from
Brianna Cordray but the next two batters were retired.
The Eagles continued their offensive momentum in the seventh. Trailing 6-3, the Eagles found themselves down to their last strike before Thorngren doubled to straightaway center field on the seventh pitch of her at-bat, advancing
Charley Pitrat, who had walked with one out, to third base.
Colorado Christian showed Eagles first baseman
Brogan Allen, who homered in both games on Friday, a significant sign of respect by intentionally walking her after falling behind in the count 2-0, putting the tying run on base and bringing the winning run to the plate.
Payton Sullivan hit it hard, but right at the right fielder who made the catch for the game's final out.
That offensive productivity did not carry over in game two against Elyse McMullin, who pitched a complete-game shutout while striking out six.
Elizabeth Thorngren and
Izzy Thomas each had two hits off McMullin, but the rest of the lineup only combined for one hit.
After battling two of the RMAC's top teams, Chadron State hits the road next weekend to face Regis (7-21, 6-16 RMAC). The Rangers have lost 12 of 14 entering next weekend's series.
