Cougars Secure Doubleheader Sweep Over Defiance College in WHAC Home Opener

(Howell, MI) -- The Cleary Cougars Baseball team played their first home WHAC Conference games this afternoon. They took on the Defiance College Yellow Jackets and were able to win both games. 

In Game 1: Cougar pitcher Haden Fisk set the tone right away, striking out the first two batters of the ballgame. The Cougars got on the board in the second inning when Braylon Hughes hit a sacrifice flyball to right field that scored Ryan Rose from third base. The Cougars increased the lead to 3-0 after picking up two more runs in the third. Brendan Seman picked up an RBI single to right field that scored Gavin Kempainen. Conner Boone scored on the next play. The Cougars picked up an insurance run in the fifth when Joey Parinello blasted a home run to left field increasing the lead to 4-0. With one out in the sixth, Juan Munoz walked and then scored on a double to left center by Brady Alverson. Haden Fisk would come out to finish the game on the mound and shut down the Yellow Jackets to lead the Cougars to a 5-0 win. 

Haden Fisk (1-1) picked up his first win on the mound this season after throwing a complete game. His final stat line was 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO. Gavin Kempainen, Conner Boone, and Ryan Rose all picked up two hits in the game as well. 

In Game 2: After Defiance took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cougars made a quick response. With runners on second and third, Brendan Seman singled to left field and scored Gavin Kempainen and Conner Boone to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. The Cougar lead increased to 3-1 in the third with an RBI single from Brodie Mackay that scored Brendan Seman from second base. The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the third inning, however, the Cougars would prevail and score three more in the fifth. After Defiance scored two runs to start off the seventh inning, the Cougars responded with three more once again. Brodie Mackay had an RBI single that scored Peyton Mullins. Ryan Rose later scored on a wild pitch and Brodie Mackay would score on a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Defiance looked for a late push and got two runs in the ninth with a two-run home run. It wouldn't be enough though as the Cougars would hold them off and win 9-6. 

Will Roberts got the start for the Cougars allowing 2 runs (1 earned) while throwing 4.0 innings. Marty McDonald picked up his first win of the season after throwing 3.0 innings and allowing 2 runs. 

The Cougars are now 13-11 overall and 3-2 in WHAC Conference play. The Cougars hit the field again on Wednesday, March 26 when they take on NCAA DI Oakland University Grizzlies in a nonconference matchup. The single 9-inning game will take place at Oakland Baseball Field in Rochester, Michigan.