Cougar Softball Drops Game to Point Park; Defeats Clarke For Second Time

(Kissimmee, FL)-- The Cleary softball team continued the spree of double-headers today, as they played a game against the Point Park Pioneers and their second game against the Clarke Pride at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee today.

In Game 1 vs. Point Park:  The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the 1st inning, and another in the 2nd inning to take a 4-0 lead through two innings of play.  After neither team scored in the 3rd inning, Point Park exploded for 4 more runs in the 4th inning to take an 8-0 lead.  In the bottom of the 5th inning, Alex Pace singled to lead off the inning.  The next batter was Molly Wheeler who walked, and Mia Rzepka walked two batters later to load the bases with one out to bring up Susie Bielecki.  Bielecki doubled to left field to clear the bases and cut into the Pioneers' lead, making the score 8-3.  Point Park responded in the 6th, adding their final run of the game, to take a 9-3 lead.  In the bottom of the 7th, and down to their final three outs, Mia Rzepka singled to lead off the inning, followed by a Susie Bielecki walk (Izabell Estes was subbed in to pinch-run).  Izzy Easton came up and doubled to right field to score Rzepka and advance Estes to third base.  After a Sarah Cassidy sacrifice fly that scored Estes, and with Maddie Campbell pinch-running for Izzy Easton, Kate Currie hit a double to right to score Campbell, making the score 9-6, but the Cougars could not rally any further.
Sonya Terleckyj took the loss to drop her record to 2-3 on the season.  She pitched 5 innings, allowing 9 R (5 earned) on 7 hits, and striking out 1.  Izzy Easton went 2/4 with 1 RBI.  Sarah Cassidy and Kate Currie each went 2/3, while Susie Bielecki went 1/3 with 3 RBI.

In Game 2 vs. Clarke:  After a scoreless 1st inning for both teams, Clarke exploded for 6 runs in the top of the 2nd.  The Cougars would respond in the bottom half of the inning.  After Kate Currie walked, and a Haley Whittecar single, Osheiauna Phifer doubled down the right field line to score Currie.  The next batter was Mia Rzepka who drew a walk to load the bases, bringing up Susie Bielecki.  Bielecki doubled to clear the bases to cut into the Pride lead, making the game 6-4.  Clarke would answer the Cougar rally, scoring two more in the 3rd to expand their lead to 8-4.  Cleary answered in a big way, scoring four runs in the 3rd inning.  After Kate Currie singled, Alex Pace walked, and Ginelle Leslie walked, Haley Whittecar singled to bring home Currie.  With the bases still loaded, Osheiauna Phifer singled to score Pace.  Mia Rzepka singled to score two runs to tie the ballgame.  In the 5th inning with the game still tied, Osheiauna Phifer singled on a bunt (and stole second).  Susie Bielecki singled to put two runners on (Izabell Estes would pinch-run).  An Izzy Easton single scored Phifer, and advanced Estes to third base.  Sarah Cassidy hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Estes, and Kate Currie singled to score Grace Pasterik who was pinch-running for Izzy Easton.  The three runs in the 5th would be all that Allison Lesonsky would need to finish the game, as she pitched the final 5.1 innings, allowing 2 R (0 earned) on 2 hits to earn her fourth victory of the season.  Osheiauna Phifer went 4/5 with 2 RBI and 2 R, while Susie Bielecki, Izzy Easton, Kate Currie, and Haley Whittecar each posted two hits.

Cleary now sits at 7-11, and will play a pair of games Tuesday, March 1, against the Mt. Vernon Nazarene Cougars.  First pitch of game 1 will take place at 10:00 AM, and in game 2 at 12:15 PM.