Cougar Rally Falls Short as Concordia Wins Both Games to Open WHAC Play
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
(Howell, MI)-- It was a sunny afternoon to enjoy some baseball, but the visiting Concordia Cardinals spoiled the day for the host Cleary Cougars baseball team, as the Cardinals won 11-2, and 9-8.
In Game 1: After a scoreless first inning, Concordia exploded for six runs in the top of the second inning to take a commanding lead in the game. Concordia added four more runs in the fourth, and their final run in the sixth to take an 11-0 lead. Cleary would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, and it started with a Derek Zavala single past the shortstop to get on lead off the inning. A Ryan Kadoguchi walk advanced Zavala into scoring position, and Aaron Dyke reached on a fielder's choice that advanced Zavala to third base. After a strike out, Billy Flohr hit an RBI triple to center-field that almost made it over the outfield fence to score Zavala and Dyke. A groundout would end the inning, and a scorless seventh inning would give the game to Concordia.
Travis Klocek took the loss, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits, and walking 3. Cleary mustered four hits, coming from Derek Zavala, Billy Flohr, Kyle Miazgowicz, and Ethan Barclay.
In Game 2: After Concordia scored two to open the game in the top of the first inning, Ryan Kadoguchi got on base when he was hit by a pitch to bring up Aaron Dyke. Dyke would hit a home run over the right field fence to tie the game and score Kadoguchi from first. Concordia would answer in the top of the second, scoring one run to take a 3-2 lead. That score would hold until the fifth inning, when Concordia scored four runs to take a 7-3 lead. The Cardinals would add one more run in the seventh inning, but Cleary got one back when Ryan Kadoguchi tripled to left field, and was brought home when Aaron Dyke doubled to left field. The two teams once again traded runs in the eighth inning. Cleary's Colton Fountain tripled to center field (Zach Agemak would pinch-run), and Agemak would score on a sacrifice fly by Kendall Flaugher to make the score 9-4. After keeping Concordia off the board in the top of the ninth, things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth for both teams. After a strike out to lead things off, Ryan Kadoguchi drew a walk, and Aaron Dyke was hit by a pitch to bring up Derek Zavala. Zavala would hit a 3-run home run to left field to make the score 9-7. The next batter was a pinch-hitting Jeremy VanOosterum, who hit a home-run off the Lake Trust Stadium scoreboard to make the score 9-8. After Colton Fountain was hit by a pitch to put the winning run at the plate, Cleary was unable to advance the tying run, and the game would end 9-8.
Garrett Larner would take the loss on the mound, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits and striking out 4 over 5 innings of work. Aaron Dyke went 3/4 with 3 RBI and 2 R at the plate, while Ryan Kadoguchi went 1/3 with 3 R.
Cleary drops to 12-10, 0-2 in WHAC play. They will next be in action next Saturday, March 26, when they travel to Sylvania, Ohio to take on the Lourdes Gray Wolves in WHAC play. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 PM.
