Cougars Drop Pair in Final Day of Bear Creek Tournament

(Oneida, TN)-- The Cleary Cougars softball team played a pair of games on their final day of the Bear Creek Tournament in Oneida, Tennessee, hosted by the University of the Cumberlands on Sunday.  A couple of big innings by each of their opponents would prove to be costly in each game.

In Game 1 vs. Cumberlands:  The #22 team in the country opened things up early and often, as the Patriots scored the game's first 7 runs through the opening 4 innings.  Cleary would get on the scorebaord when Allison Lesonsky was brought home after Grace Pasterik reached base on an error.  The next batter was Molly Wheeler who doubled down the left field line to bring Pasterik home to cut into the Patriot's lead, making the score 7-2.  Cumberlands would add one run in the bottom of the 5th to answer and make the score 8-2.  Down to their final three outs and looking to rally, Susie Bielecki hit a solo home run to lead things off for the Cougars, but the rally would fall short with no more runs coming across home plate.  
Allison Lesonsky took the loss on the mound, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in 3 innings of work.  

In Game 2 vs. IUSB:  Things started off better for the Cougars, as they scored twice in the top of the 2nd inning to take an early 2-0 lead.  After Susie Bielecki doubled to lead off the inning, Alex Pace singled to advance Bielecki to third base.  The next batter was Gabriel Monreal who reached on an error, but allowed Bielecki to score and advanced Pace to third base.  The next batter was Kate Currie who flew out to right field, but scored Pace on a sac. fly.  The Titans would respond in the bottom of the 2nd, when they hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to take a 5-2 lead.  The Cougars best chance of the game came in the top of the 4th.  With the bases loaded, Courtney Ture hit a sac. fly to right field that scored Gabby Monreal to cut into the Titan lead.  After Mia Rzepka walked to reload the bases, the Cougars would be unable to score the rest of the inning, and unfortunately, the rest of the game.  IUSB exploded for 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th, and one more in the 6th to give the Titans an 11-3 lead and the victory. 
Mercedes Cole took the loss for the Cougars, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits in 1.1 innings of play.

Cleary drops to 4-6 on the season, and will next be in action on Tuesday when they take on the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs in exhibition action.  First pitch of game 1 is at 1:00 PM.

Notes:

• Susie Bielecki's home run in game 1 was her second of the season, equaling her total from 2020-21 in just 10 games.
• Maddie Campbell leads the team in batting average, hits and in runs scored, with a .588 avg., 10 hits and 7 runs scored.