Cougars Split Double-Header with #15 Indiana Wesleyan

(Marian, IN)-- There was plenty of offense to be had as each team dominated one game apiece to earn a split, as the Cleary Cougars baseball team took one game out of two from the #15 ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats in Marian, Indiana on Wednesday.

In Game 1: After Ryan Kadoguchi reached on an error and then stole second, Jeremy Van Oosterum singled to right field to score Kadoguchi and give the Cougars an early 1-0 lead.  That lead would be short-lived, as the hosts scored 11 unanswered runs over the next four innings to take an 11-1 lead into the 5th inning.  Cleary would add some runs in the 5th, when Jesnel Soto reached on a fielder's choice, followed by walks from Derek Zavala and Ryan Kadoguchi to load the bases.  The next batter was Spencer Jamieson who doubled home Zavala and Soto to make the score 11-3.  The next batter was Jeremy VanOosterum who had his second RBI of the game with a blooper single that scored Kadoguchi to make the score 11-4.  The Wildcats would score 6 runs in the bottom of the 5th to answer that Cougar rally.  In the top of the 6th, with Marcel Garcia pinch-running for Colton Fountain who walked, Nicklas Koan reached base safely on an error that advanced Garcia to third base.  A Kyle Miazgowicz walk loaded the bases to bring up Jesnel Soto, who flew out to right, but scored Garcia from third base.  A Derek Zavala walk loaded the bases once again to bring up Ryan Kadoguchi, who reached base safely on an error, but scored Zavala, Miazgowicz, and Koan to make the score 17-8.  Unfortunately for Cleary, the deficit would be too much to overcome, and the score would hold through the 7th inning.
Garrett Larner took the loss for Cleary, going 2 + innings, and allowing 8 R (6 earned) on 7 hits.  Cleary mustered 5 total hits in the game, provided by Ryan Kadoguchi, Spencer Jamieson, Jeremy VanOosterum, Billy Flohr, and Kendall Flaugher.

In Game 2: This game was a mirror image of game 1, but this time it was Cleary inflicting the damage early and often to secure what would be their eventual victory.  After a scoreless 1st inning, Anthony Lacle and Billy Flohr each singled to get on base.  The next batter was Kendall Flaugher who hit his first home run of the season, scoring three runs for the Cougars.  After Nicklas Koan reached on an error, and Derek Zavala walked, Ryan Kadoguchi hit a triple to bring two more Cougars across home plate.  Spencer Jamieson added an RBI groundout to score Kadoguchi to make the score 6-0 after 2 innings.  In the 4th inning, Derek Zavala got on base after being hit by a pitch, and Ryan Kadoguchi singled.  After a Zavala stolen base to put him at third, Spencer Jamieson brought Zavala home on a fly ball to right field to make the score 7-0.  The next batter was Jeremy VanOosterum who tripled, scoring Kadoguchi on the play.  VanOosterum would eventually score on a wild pitch to make the game 9-0.  The Wildcats would get on the board with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 4th, and the score would remain 9-2 until the top of the 7th when Derek Zavala hit a 2-run homer to score Jesnel Soto and extend the Cougar lead to 11-2.  Cleary would pitch a scoreless 7th and 8th inning, and the game would be called after the 8th to give Cleary the game two victory.

Travis Klocek threw a quality start, going 6.2 innings, allowing 2 R on 3 hits, while striking out 1 to earn the victory.  Ryan Kadoguchi went 3/5  with 2 RBI and 2 R to lead Cleary, while Derek Zavala and Anthony Lacle each posted 2 hits in the game.  

The series split keeps Cleary above .500, as they are now 8-7 on the season.  They will travel to Chillicothe, Ohio on Tuesday, March 8, to take on the Rio Grande Red Storm in a two game series.  First pitch of game 1 will be at 12:00 PM.