ALAMOSA — Because of the Easter holiday, the Adams State University softball team got their four-game series with the Colorado Christian University Cougars started on Good Friday. The Grizzlies, now 16-24 overall and 15-15 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, kept with their tread of splitting doubleheaders as they did just that.

The Grizzlies opened up their action with a bang and won the first game 9-6 before the Cougars rallied for an 8-1 win in the second game. The first game gave ASU a tie for their longest win streak on the season as they have won three straight on two other occasions.

In the first game, Adams State gave up a first inning run on a double to right field. That did not hinder the Grizzlies, however, as they were able to rattle off five runs in the bottom of the first. The Grizzlies opened up their scoring with a triple from Kalin Johnson that scored Tyler Hays. April Riggins, who had four home runs last Saturday, singled to center field to push Johnson across the plate for a 2-1 lead.

Marissa Harmon then took advantage of a fielding error by the right fielder to reach base and allowed Riggins to score an unearned run. Alexandria Quintan then singled to center field scoring Taylor Roberts before Reichmuth secured an RBI with a fielder’s choice to score Harmon. Three of the Grizzlies’ runs in the inning were unearned runs.

The Cougars attempted to keep pace with ASU’s offensive onslaught as they scored two runs in the top of the second inning including a home run.

Harmon became the hero for the Grizzlies as they extended their lead to six runs, 9-3 as she singled to score Johnson unearned before she hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.

The Cougars scored two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, but fell short 9-6. Letty Valenzuela homered in the fifth inning for two RBI and then reached on an error in the sixth as Hanna Farmer scored.

In the circle, Lauren Murphy earned the win as she pitched a complete game. She allowed six runs, only five that were earned, on 10 hits and one walk. She had four strikeouts as she faced 36 batters tossed 138 net pitches. Kelsea Sweeney (10-7) took the loss with five strikeouts as she also had a complete game performance. She allowed nine runs, only five of which were earned, on nine hits and four runs.

In the second game, neither team scored a run until the third inning. Valenzuela had a single RBI in the third inning to score the first run of the game. She then had a double RBI in the top of the fourth, and homered in the sixth earning another two RBI. Also on offense, Hanna Farmer scored three runs, Shelbie Day tripled, and Jennie Winston hit a homer to left center in the fifth inning (RBI).

Adams State, who suffered from five major fielding errors by the Grizzlies, CCU was bound to take the win.

Adams had their solo run in the fifth inning as Cheyenne Hamilton singled up the middle and then made it all the way around on an error. Adams State ended up leaving 10 players on base. They had a big chance to score in the bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded.

Sarah Probasco (4-7) started for the Cougars and dominated on the mound as she had seven total strikeouts, allowing only one run off nine hits through seven innings.

Whitney Fields was the losing pitcher as she falls to 4-10 on the season. She pitched four innings and allowed five runs, none of which were earned, on four hits and three walks. She had four strikeouts and two wild pitches.

The Grizzlies will conclude their four-game series with the Grizzlies on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Fans are encouraged to make it to the field early as the doubleheader will double as the Strike-Out Cancer Game and a special pregame ceremony is set to start the day.