Cougars Split Against Siena Heights in Thrilling Games

Cougars Split Against Siena Heights in Thrilling Games
April 9, 2024

(Howell, MI) -- The Cleary Cougars baseball team took on the Siena Heights Saints today in a midweek WHAC conference matchup. These were makeup games from April 2nd because of the weather.

In Game 1:  The Saints would kick things off right away in the 1st inning with 2 runs of their own to take an early 2-0 lead. The Cougars would immediately strike back with a Ben Cerven sacrifice fly ball to score Gavin Kempainen. Sam Browne would then single to bring home Brice Wesley. Robert Kortas would double later in the inning to score Sam Browne, giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead after the 1st inning. Siena Heights would respond in the top of the 2nd inning with 3 more runs and taking a 5-3 lead over the Cougars. Siena Heights would make it 6-3 lead in the top of the 5th inning before the Cougars offense would explode. Brice Wesley kicked things off with an RBI single which was followed by a wild pitch that allowed Zach Agemak to score. Ben Cerven would then single for another run followed by a Sam Browne double to score Brice Wesley. Ethan Barclay would then hit a ball into shallow right field that was caught by the second baseman. Ben Cerven would take the risk and tag up on the play and score making it a 5-run inning for the Cougars to give them an 8-6 lead. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Sam Browne blasted a ball over the center field fence for a 2-run home run increasing the lead to 10-8, which the Cougars would hold on to for the win. 

Nate Raniszewski would get the start for the Cougars allowing 5 runs in 4.0 innings pitched. Kyle Downard (1-0) would pick up his first win on the mound after throwing 1.0 innings with 1 run allowed. Sam Browne would go 3-4 in this game, picking up 4 RBIs along with his second home run of the season. 

In Game 2: After Siena Heights would take an early 1-0 lead, Spencer Jamieson would single driving in Brice Wesley to make it a 1-1 ballgame after the 1st inning. Siena Heights would pick up 2 more runs in the 2nd inning and 3 more runs in the 3rd inning to take a commanding lead. The Cougars would get runs back in the bottom half of the 3rd inning when they would score 4 runs on 2 hits. They would tie the game at 6-6 in the 4th inning when Robert Kortas singled to right field allowing Spencer Jamieson to score from 2nd base. The Cougars would go on to take the lead in the 5th inning, scoring 3 more runs with 1 hit and 2 Siena Heights errors in the inning. The Saints would bring the game back within 1 run after scoring 2 runs in the top of the 6th. Kristian Scalf would score on a groundout in the bottom half of the inning increasing the lead back to 10-8. The Saints would not give up though as they would go on to score 3 runs in the 7th inning and 3 runs in the 8th inning giving them a 14-10 lead. After a walk to start the bottom of the 9th inning, Brice Wesley would triple to right center putting the Cougars in reaching distance with no outs. He would go on to score on a wild pitch, however, this was all the Cougars could scratch across leaving them with a 14-12 loss to the Saints. 

Will Roberts would make his home debut on the mound in this game going 2.2 innings pitched while allowing 6 runs on 9 hits. Ryan Lieng (0-2) would ultimately suffer the loss after allowing 6 runs (5 earned) in 2.0 innings of work. Zach Agemak would pick up 3 RBIs in this game after going 1-4 at the plate. 

The Cougars are now 10-21 overall on the season and 7-11 in WHAC conference play. They look to pick conference play back up on Friday when they host Aquinas University in a WHAC conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM.