Cougars Split Doubleheader in Kentucky After Late-Game Drama

(Barboursville, KY) -- The Cleary Cougars Baseball team finished their Kentucky trip today with another doubleheader against the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs. Both offenses would be halted after yesterdays high scoring afair. 

In Game 1: Coming off an extremely high-scoring game last night this game would be the exact opposite. Austin Santure broke the scoring open in the second inning for the Cougars when he singled to right field. With two outs in the inning, Conner Boone would take off immediately and score on the play all the way from first base. The Cougars would add one more run in the third inning. Brice Wesley got things started with a walk and Brodie Mackay would get hit by the pitch. With both runners on and two outs in the inning, Hector Montilla would come up clutch with a single scoring Brice Wesley and giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Those two runs were all that were needed for the Cougars as pitcher Jacob Savina was lights out. Union Commonwealth picked up their lone run in his last inning of work on an error. Haden Fisk would then enter the ball game and shut it down for the final two innings. He would face the minimum of six batters in his two innings of work striking out five of them which included striking out the side in the seventh inning. 

Jacob Savina (2-0) got the start for the Cougars and picked up his second win of the season. He finished with a final stat line of 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0ER), 1 BB, and 3 SO. Haden Fisk would come in for the final two innings of the game and pick up his first save of the season. 

In Game 2: Union Commonwealth came out looking for revenge from Game 1. They'd come out and score two runs in the first inning taking an early 2-0 lead over the Cougars. The Cougars wouldn't back down as Joey Parinello launched a home run to left field to kick off the second inning. Braylon Hughes would score on a groundout in the third to tie the game 2-2. Brice Wesley would get hit by a pitch and attempt to steal second base. The ball would get thrown into centerfield and allow Austin Vincent to score giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead. Action would get shut down from there until the seventh inning. With the bases loaded for the Cougars, a passed ball allowed Braylon Hughes to score for an insurance run. The Bulldogs wouldn't go down without a fight though as two doubles in the bottom half of the inning tied things up and sent the game to extras. The Cougars would go scoreless in the eighth despite a leadoff walk. The Bulldogs would get the bases loaded with two outs and end the game on a walkoff walk to end the game. 

Brendan Seman would go 6.2 IP in his start on the mound letting up 4 runs on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts. Austin Vincent would go 3-3 at the plate with a run scored. 

The Cougars are now 6-6 on the season. They will take on the Rio Grande Red Storm on Wednesday, March 5th in Rio Grande, OH for a doubleheader. Game 1 is scheduled to start at 12:00 PM with Game 2 starting at approximately 3:00 PM.