Kupsky's No-Hitter and Dargie's Strong Outing Lift Softball to Pair of Victories

(Melbourne, FL)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team played their first games at the Space Coast Complex Monday, and the Cougars were able to earn their first two wins of the season

In Game 1 vs. Fisher:  The Cougars jumped all over the Falcons, scoring six runs in the first inning, and five more in the second inning to take a commanding 11-0 lead.  Jade Kupsky struck out the first twelve batters she faced, and took a perfect game into the top of the fifth inning.  Unfortunately for Kupsky, she would walk the leadoff batter to lose the perfect game, but was able to strike out the final two batters to earn a no-hitter in her first career collegiate start.

Jade Kupsky threw a complete game no-hitter, and struck out 14 batters while walking 1 in 5 innings pitched.  Gabrielle Monreal went 2/2 with 2 runs scored.  Cleary also got hits from Lauren Gannon and Olivia DeJohn in the game.

In Game 2 vs. New College of Florida:  The Mighty Banyans scored one run in the bottom of the second inning and took that lead into the fifth.  In the fifth, Olivia DeJohn singled down the right field line, and was advanced to third after Sierra Diegel doubled.  A Grace Pasterik suicide squeeze bunt allowed DeJohn to score the tying run.  Another suicide squeeze bunt by Lauren Gannon scored Diegel to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.  In the sixth, Cleary would extend their lead to 5-1.  Olivia DeJohn hit a ground-rule double to right center with two outs to start the rally, and scored one batter later, when Arianna Harden tripled to straightaway center field.  A throwing error by the Mighty Banyans scored Harden, and allowed Sierra Diegel to advance to second base.  Diegel would score on another throwing error to score the Cougars' fifth run. That would be all pitcher Halle Dargie needed, as she threw a complete game en route to her first win of the season.

Halle Dargie allowed 1 run on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts in the victory.  Olivia DeJohn went 2/4 with 2 runs scored in the game.  Gabrielle Monreal, Jenna Wagenschutz, Arianna Harden, and Sierra Diegel each had a hit for the Cougars.

The two victories now give the Cougars a 2-6 record on the season.  Cleary will be back at the Space Coast Complex on Wednesday, March 5, when they play two games.  Game one will be played against the Saint Francis Cougars at 12:15 PM, and game two will be played against the Florida Memorial Lions at 4:45 PM.  Both games will be played at the Space Coast Complex's Blue Easton fields.