Softball's Season Ends in Heartbreak After WHAC Tournament Extra Innings Thriller
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
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6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
(Sylvania, OH)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team was in action for the final time this season, as they dropped both games of the double-elimination WHAC Tournament at Pacesetter Park in Sylvania, Ohio Wednesday evening.
In Game 1 vs. 3-seed UNOH: The Racers scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game. The Racers added another run in the bottom of the fourth, and held the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way to hand Cleary a 7-0 defeat.
Haley Ludwig suffered the loss in the circle, while Halle Dargie threw over 5 innings of relief. Cleary would get three hits in the game, with one each coming from Olivia DeJohn, Maddie Bunkoske, and Arianna Harden.
In Game 2 vs. 7-seed Aquinas: With the game one loss, Cleary would have to win game two to advance to the tournament's second day. With Aquinas as the visitors on the scoreboard, the Saints struck first with three runs in the top of the third inning. The Cougars would answer in the bottom of the inning when Mia Rzepka hit her second career home run, as a solo shot, to cut the deficit to two runs. The Saints answered back in the fifth to score two runs of their own, and led 5-1. A Grace Pasterik infield single scored Gabrielle Monreal for the Cougars to start a rally that would ultimately tie the game. In the bottom of the fifth, Maddie Bunkoske and Arianna Harden both reached scoring position to lead off the inning. A Gabrielle Monreal safety squeeze added a run for the Cougars, followed by a Jenna Wagenschutz RBI single up the middle to make the score 4-5. With the score still 4-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Lauren Gannon hit a lead-off home run to tie the game, but the Cougars offense would stall, and extra innings would be required. The Cougars' best chance in extra-innings came in the bottom of the ninth, when Cleary loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to get the walk-off hit to end the game. In the top of the tenth, Aquinas loaded the bases, and drew back-to-back walks to score a pair of runs, and took a 7-5 lead. Cleary would be held scoreless in the bottom of the tenth, and the game and season ended with a 7-5 score.
Haley Ludwig suffered the loss for Cleary, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 6.2 innings of relief. Mia Rzepka went 3/4 at the plate, with two walks, a run scored, and a RBI. Jenna Wagenschutz added a 2/4 game.
Cleary's season ends with an 18-26 record.
