Cougars Open WHAC Play With Pair of Losses

(Howell, MI)-- After the cold weather pushed the conference opening series back three times, the Cornerstone Golden Eagles and the Cleary Cougars were finally able to play their games today at Lake Trust Stadium.

In Game 1:  The Golden Eagles would get things started right away, scoring four runs in the top of the 1st inning off Mercedes Cole.  Cleary would answer with a run in the bottom half of the inning, after Osheiauna Phifer singled to the pitcher, stole second, and advanced to third on a fly out.  A Susie Bielecki sacrifice fly would score Phifer and cut the lead to 4-1.  Cornerstone would add two more runs in the top of the 3rd to make the score 6-1.  Cleary responded in the bottom of the 3rd, and Osheiauna Phifer started things off witha  triple.  Mia Rzepka's fielder's choice scored Phifer to cut into the Golden Eagle lead.  After a Susie Bielecki double, Izzy Easton singled to score both Rzepka and Bielecki to make the score 6-4. Kate Currie would single off the pitcher's glove to keep the pressure on, and two batters later Grace Pasterik singled to score two more runs to tie the game.  Cornerstone would add five runs over the next three innings to take a 11-6 lead into the bottom of the 7th.  Izzy Easton led off the bottom of the 7th with a solo home run, but that would be as close as the Cougars would get, falling 11-7.
Mercedes Cole took the loss, allowing 9 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits, while striking out 4.  Alexis Beeson pitched the final 3 innings, and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits.  Osheiauna Phifer went 3/4 and Kate Currie each went 3/4 to pace the Cougars.  Izzy Easton added 2 hits and 3 RBI.

In Game 2:  After Cornerstone led off the game with a solo home run, and then scored another in the top of the 3rd, Cleary would get on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning.  Allison Lesonsky doubled to lead things off, and Grace Pasterik singled to advance the runner.  Mia Rzepka would ground out to third base, but scored Lesonsky to cut the lead to 2-1.  In the bottom of the 4th, Sarah Cassidy doubled to left field, and Maddie Campbell singled to put two runners in scoring position.  An Allison Lesonsky rbi groundout tied the game, and Grace Pasterik singled to score Campbell and give Cleary the lead at 3-2.  Two Golden Eagle runs in the 5th gave the visitors back the lead at 4-3, and that score would remain through the final out.  
Allison Lesonsky pitched a complete game, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits.  Sarah Cassidy and Grace Pasterik each went 2/3 at the plate for the Cougars.  

Cleary drops to 11-19, 0-2 in WHAC play.  They will be back in action this Saturday, April 2, when they travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Concordia Cardinals.  First pitch in game one is set for 1:00 PM