Softball Takes 2 Out of 3 in Opening Day Triple-Header

(Brighton, MI)-- It is still January, but the Cleary Cougars softball team opened up their 2022 season with a triple-header at the Legacy Sports Complex in Brighton, Michigan on Friday.

In Game 1 vs. Grace:  Grace got things going first in the bottom of the 1st inning, as three straight hits made it 2-0 for the Lancers.  It would stay a 2-0 lead until the top of the 3rd, when Mia Rzepka scored after Courtney Ture reached on an error, and advancing Kate Currie to 3rd base.  After Ture stole second, Currie stole home to make it a tie game.  The Cougars were not done by any stretch, and Izzy Easton singled home Ture to give the Cougars an early lead.  The Cougars' Susie Bielecki doubled home Grace Pasterik to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead after 3 innings.  Grace got two runs back in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game, and the score would remain 4-4 through regulation.  After Cleary was unable to score in the top of the 8th, and with a runner on 2nd base, Grace singled home the winning run to take the game 5-4.
Izzy Easton went 2-4 with an RBI.  Alex Pace went 3.2 innings, striking out 2 and giving up 4 runs on 7 hits.  Mercedes Cole also went 3.2 innings, giving up 1 run on 3 hits, and striking out 2.

In Game 2 vs. Miami-Hamilton:  After two scoreless innings, Cleary would get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the 3rd, when Jenna Wagenschutz reached on an error, allowing Maddie Campbell to score.  The next batter was Izzy Easton, who singled home Wagenschutz.
Susie Bielecki kept the inning going when she doubled home Easton.  After Gabby Monreal reached on an error, both Grace Pasterik and Bielecki were able to score to give the Cougars a 5-0 lead.  The Harriers would get a run back in the 4th, but Cleary's Kate Currie brought Maddie Campbell home and advanced Courtney Ture to 3rd base.  Izzy Easton singled to score Ture making it 7-1.  M-Hamilton would add one more in the 6th, but Osh Phifer singled to left scoring Maddie Campbell to give the Cougars an 8-2 lead.
Allison Lesonsky pitched a complete game to earn the victory, striking out 4, and giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits.  Maddie Campbell went 3/3 with 3 runs, and Izzy Easton went 2/3 with 2 RBI.

In Game 3 vs. Judson:  The visiting Eagles would score first in the first, but Cleary answered immiediatley to tie, after Osh Phifer scored on a double-steal attempt.  In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Sarah Cassidy singled home Wagenschutz.  The next batter was Haley Whittecar reached base on an error by the catcher after laying a sacrifice bunt down, and advanced to 2nd base.  Cassidy scored to make it 3-1.  Osh Phifer grounded out to 1st, but with a runner on 3rd allowed Whittecar to score, making it 4-1.  Grace Pasterik doubled home Whittecar, and Izzy Easton continued to stay hot, singling home Rzepka to make the score 6-1 in favor of Cleary.  Judson would score one more time in the 5th, but a Sarah Cassidy RBI single in the 5th, a Wagenschutz single, and an Alex Pace single in the 6th made the score 10-2 for Cleary to secure the victory.
Alexis Beeson earned the victory, going 3.2 innings, striking out 1, and allowing 1 run on 2 hits.  Alex Pace and Grace Pasterik each went 2/3 at the place, while Sarah Cassidy went 2/3 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored.  Cleary ends the day 2-1.

The Cougars will be back at Legacy next Thursday and Friday with two games each day, both starting at 11:30 and 1:45.  Livestats will be available at https://clearycougars.com/composite?d=2022-02-03