Softball Falls in Extra Innings in Game Two to Split With Cornerstone

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team found themselves in a pair of pitcher's duals, as they took on the Cornerstone Golden Eagles in a WHAC doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Lake Trust Stadium.

In Game 1: Jessica Garmen drew a one-out walk, and then advanced on a throwing error, to get into scoring position in the bottom of the second inning.  Garmen would score one batter later, when Maddie Bunkoske doubled, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.  Cleary would see that lead grow in the bottom of the third.  Mckenzie Latshaw led off the inning with a single to right field, and two batters later, Kate Currie doubled to right center, scoring Latshaw from first.  After Jenna Wagenschutz reached on a dropped fly ball, advancing Currie to third base, Ashleigh Tatara singled to score Currie, and Cleary's lead was 3-0.  The next batter, Jessica Garmen, laid a sacrifice "suicide" squeeze bunt, and Wagenschutz scored the inning's final run.  The Golden Eagles would add one run in each the fourth and the fifth innings, but Halle Dargie stood tall, and finished the game without allowing further damage, as the Cougars won 4-2.

Halle Dargie would earn her 4th win of the season, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 8 hits, while striking out 3, in a complete game effort.  Ashleigh Tatara led Cleary with a 2/3 day at the plate, while five other Cougars earned a hit in the game.

In Game 2:  Game two was a true pitcher's dual, as neither team was able to earn a hit until the third inning, and both teams were held under four hits in the game.  Cleary would get a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth after back to back infield singles by Grace Pasterik and Mckenzie Latshaw, but the rally would end with a strikeout.  Neither team could get the winning or go-ahead run in regulation, so extra innings were required.  In the eighth, Cornerstone drew a leadoff walk, and advanced the runner to second base on a sacrifice bunt.  The go-ahead run would come on a single that ricocheted off pitcher Sonya Terleckyj's shin, and allowed the Golden Eagles to score.  Though Terleckyj was able to get out of the jam without allowing further damage, Cleary was unable to score the tying or game-winning run it needed and dropped game two 1-0.

Sonya Terleckyj would suffer the loss for Cleary, allowing 1 run on 4 hits in 8 innings thrown.  Cleary got hits from Mckenzie Latshaw, Mia Rzepka, and Grace Pasterik in the game.

Cleary is now 8-16 overall, 3-5 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be on the road on Sunday, April 7, when they travel to Fort Wayne to take on the Indiana Tech Warriors in a WHAC doubleheader.  First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.