Cougars Pitch Their Way to Series Victory Over #25 Point Park

(Marion, NC)-- It was a historic weekend for the Cleary Cougars baseball team, as they pitched their way to an impressive series win over the #25 ranked, and NAIA College World Series participant from 2021, Point Park Pioneers in Marion, North Carolina last weekend.

In Game 1:  Derek Zavala went 3/3, and scored 2 R, while Ryan Kadoguchi went 2/4 with 2 RBI to help the Cougars jump on top, scoring 3 runs in the 4th inning.  Those 3 runs would be all Garrett Larner would need, as he pitched 5 innings of shutout baseball, while striking out 7, and only allowing 3 hits, to earn the victory on the mound.  Jeremy VanOosterum and Nicklas Koan would be credited with the other 2 RBI, as the Cougars scored 4 runs on 9 hits over the course of the 7 inning game.  Anthony Lacle was brought in to finish the game, and earned his first save of the season, pitching the final 2 innings, while striking out 4, allowing 0 hits, and walking 2.

In Game 2: The story of game two was Travis Klocek, who made Cougar history, and pitched the first ever no-hitter in program history.  Klocek struck out 8, while allowing 0 runs on 0 hits, and walking 4 in a complete game (7 innings) to earn the victory.  Derek Zavala went 2/4 with 1 R, while Ryan Kadoguchi, Spencer Jamieson, Jeremy VanOosterum, and Aaron Dyke each had 1 RBI for the Cougars.  Jamieson, VanOosterum, Dyke, and Jesnel Soto each contributed 2 hits for Cleary, who swept day 1 of the action.

In Game 3:  Game 3 was the one blemish on an otherwise outstanding weekend, as the Pioneers opened day two with a 26-8 throttling, scoring at least 3 runs in 4 out of 7 innings.  Derek Zavala did go 3/3 with 2 RBI, and Kyle Miazgowicz went 2/3 with an RBI for Cleary.  Anthony Lacle hit a 3-run home run in the 5th for Cleary.

In Game 4:  It was almost a repeat of game 2, as lefty Jeremy Fuchs took a no-hitter into the 7th inning before the Pioneers managed a hit.  Fuchs threw a wonderful game nonetheless, as he pitched a complete game (7 innings) allowing 0 runs on 1 hit, striking out 6, and walking 1 to earn his first victory as a Cougar.  Ryan Kadoguchi continued to keep his bat hot, going 2/3 with 1 R.  Colton Fountain also went 2/3, but added 3 RBI, and Kendall Flaugher went 1/3 with 2 RBI for Cleary.  Anthony Lacle rouned out the multi-hit Cougars with a 2/3 showing.

Cleary's three wins improve their record to 7-5 overall.  They will have their home opener at Lake Trust Stadium next Tuesday, March 1, when they host NCAA D2 Saginaw Valley State University in a single, 9 inning game.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.

**We apologize for the delay in producing this recap.  It took some time to compile the stats for the four games**