Cleary Sweeps Rochester as Coach Tim Bailey Earns 150th Career Victory

(Howell, MI)-- After struggling to open WHAC conference play, the Cleary Cougar softball team found success early and often as they picked up a pair of victories over the Rochester University Warriors Monday afternoon at Lake Trust Stadium.

In Game 1:  Cleary got things going right away, as Osheiauna Phifer drew a walk, stole second, and advanced to third base on a passed ball.  Mia Rzepka would score Phifer on the very next at bat.  Susie Bielecki would draw a walk and steal second to keep the pressure on.  After a line out, Kate Currie singled to center field to score Rzepka.  The inning's final run would be scored on a Sarah Cassidy sacrifice fly that brough Bielecki home to make the score 3-0.  Rochester would score two runs in the top half of the second inning, but Cleary roared back in the bottom half of the second to score eight more runs.  Grace Pasterik singled and then stole second base.  The next batter, Jenna Wagenschutz, reached on an error that advanced Pasterik to third base.  Two batters later, Mia Rzepka tripled to right center that scored both runners to extend the lead to 5-2.  Rzepka would later score on another Warrior error to make the score 6-2 in favor of the Cougars.  After Izzy Easton was hit by a pitch to advance Susie Bielecki to second base, Kate Currie doubled to left center and scored both runners to make the score 8-2.  Sarah Cassidy kept the rally going with a single to center field that scored Currie, and another error would allow Currie to score in the next at bat for the inning's final run.  Cleary would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the third, when Osheiauna Phifer led off with a triple to right field.  Mia Rzepka singled to right to score Phifer.  After Allie Young would pitch hit for Bielecki and reached on a fielder's choice, Izzy Easton doubled her to third base.  A Kate Currie sacrifice fly would make the score 13-2 through three innings.  Rochester would score one final run in the top of the fourth, but Cleary answered in the bottom of the inning.  Ginelle Leslie got on with a one out triple, and a Jenna Wagenschutz single scored her for the game's final run.  Cleary would win 14-3 after five innings (10 run advantage through 5 innings).
Alex Pace would earn the victory, allowing 3 runs in 4 innings and striking out 2.  Kate Currie and Mia Rzepka each had 2 hits and 4 RBI to pace the offense, while Jenna Wagenschutz added 2 hits as well.

In Game 2:  After Rochester struck first in the top of the first, Cleary would tie the game in the bottom of the inning when Osheiauna Phifer singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Grace Pasterik would bring Phifer home on a sacrifice fly.  Cleary would add two more runs in the third, when Izzy Easton doubled to right center, followed by a Kate Currie single to put runners on second and third.  Haley Whittecar singled to left to bring home Easton, and Currie would advance home when Whittecar stretched her single into a second base.  Two batters later, Ginelle Leslie doubled home Whittecar to make the score 4-1.  In the fourth, Gabby Monreal led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when Izzy Easton doubled to left center to make the score 5-1.  Cleary would score their final two runs in the fifth, when Courtney Ture reached on an error, and advanced to third on a throwing error as she stole second.  Ginelle Leslie drew a walk, and stole second, and both Leslie and Ture would score on another Warrior throwing error to make the score 7-1.  
Alexis Beeson would go the distance, picking up her 3rd win on the season, as she allowed 1 R on 4 H in 7 innings.  Izzy Easton went 3/4 in the game, while Osheiauna Phifer, Grace Pasterik, Kate Currie, Haley Whittecar, Ginelle Leslie, and Gabby Monreal each had a hit apiece.

Cleary improves to 13-25, 2-8 in the WHAC.  The pair of victories helped head coach Tim Bailey eclipse his 150th career victory at the helm of Cougar softball.  In his tenure, Cleary has won a USCAA National Championship (2018), and he has been named the USCAA National Coach of the Year (2017).  

Cleary will next play when they make the trip to Madonna on Wednesday for a WHAC double-header.