Softball Comes Up Short vs. Blue Devils

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team was back at Lake Trust Stadium Friday afternoon, as they took on the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils in a makeup from last Sunday.

In Game 1: The Blue Devils started off strong, as they scored one run in the top of the first inning.  Cleary would take the lead in the bottom of the first.  Gabrielle Monreal, Kate Currie, and Arianna Harden would all walk, loading the bases, and bringing up Mckenzie Latshaw.  Latshaw would draw another walk, scoring Monreal and tying the game at 1-1.  Jessica Garmen would be hit by a pitch, and scored Kate Currie, to give the Cougars a 2-1 advantage.  The Blue Devils would tie the game in the second, and took the lead for good in the third, as LTU would score in each of the seven innings played.  

Halle Dargie suffered the loss, allowing 7 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits in 4 innings thrown.  Cleary was held to four hits in the game, with those hits coming from Arianna Harden, Mckenzie Latshaw, Jessica Garmen, and Grace Pasterik.

In Game 2:  After Lawrence Tech scored one run in the second, third, and fourth innings, Cleary would get on the board in the bottom of the fourth.  Jenna Wagenschutz doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning, and Caitlynn Duffey advanced Wagenschutz on a sacrifice bunt.  The next batter, Jessica Garmen, doubled, and scored Wagenschutz.  Grace Pasterik would pinch run for Garmen, and advanced to third on a Maddie Bunkoske single, bringing up Ashleigh Tatara.  The Blue Devils would make a great play defensively, as Tatara lined out to the shortstop, who beat Pasterik back to third base to end the scoring threat on a double play.  LTU held Cleary's offense in check the rest of the game, with the final score ending at 3-1.

Sonya Terleckyj would suffer the loss, allowing 3 runs on 9 hits, with 5 strike outs in a complete game effort.  Jenna Wagenschutz and Maddie Bunkoske each had 2 hits to lead the Cleary offense.

Cleary falls to 7-13 overall, 2-2 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Grand Rapids to take on the Aquinas Saints.  The game will be played at Cornerstone University's softball field, with first pitch happening at 1:00 PM.