Cougars Light Up the Scoreboard in Commanding Sweep of the Wolverines

(Rochester, MI) -- The Cleary Cougars Baseball team took on the University of Michigan - Dearborn Wolverines this afternoon in a WHAC Conference doubleheader. They were able to combine for 30 runs total in the doubleheader. 

In Game 1: The Cougars kicked off the scoring in the second inning, taking a 3-0 lead. Braylon Hughes doubled, scoring Hector Montilla and Ryan Rose. Hughes would score on the next play, an error by the left fielder. The Cougars would then score six more runs to take a 9-0 lead in the third inning. Ryan Rose would hit a two RBI double to left field, which was followed by a two RBI triple from Brodie Mackay. Brodie Mackay would score on the next play, and the final run would score on an RBI single from Conner Boone. In the fifth, the Cougar lead grew to 12-0. Two runs came in on RBI singles from Gavin Kempainen and Conner Boone. The last run of the inning scored on a fielder's choice. The Wolverines got two runs back in the fifth, but the Cougars got those back in the seventh. Brendan Seman singled, which scored Joeseph Miller. Seman would score later in the inning on a wild pitch. The Wolverines got one run back in the seventh, but it would not be enough as the Cougars walked away with a 14-3 win.

Nate Raniszewski (3-3) got the start on the mound and finished with a final stat line of 4.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 BB, and 4 SO. Kyle Downard made his first appearance on the mound this year, allowing 1 run in 1.0 innings pitched. 

In Game 2: The Cougars picked right up where they left off in Game 1, scoring six runs in the first inning and batting through the order. In the top of the second, the Cougars added three more runs, increasing the lead to 9-0. Joey Parinello and Jake VanderHaar both had RBI singles in the inning, and Braylon Hughes had a sacrifice fly that scored Hector Montilla. After four innings of play, the Cougars had a commanding lead of 10-1. They added four more runs in the fifth, increasing the lead to 14-1. Brodie Mackay doubled that scored Brendan Seman and Joey Parinello. Juan Munoz scored on a fielder's choice, which then was followed by an Austin Vincent single that scored Brodie Mackay. With two outs in the sixth, the Cougars added two more runs. Jake VanderHaar singled, scoring Brendan Seman, and Juan Munoz would score on a wild pitch. The Wolverines were unable to score in the bottom half of the seventh inning, and the game was called at 16-1 due to run rule mercy in favor of the Cougars. 

Ryan Lieng (1-2) made his first start on the mound this season, going 4.0 innings pitched and allowing 1 run. Brendan Seman would finish 3-4 with 4 runs and 1 RBI at the plate. 

The Cougars improve to 21-17 overall and 11-7 in WHAC Conference play. The Cougars will pick things up tomorrow with their first home games of the month as they welcome the Lawrence Tech University Blue Devils to Lake Trust Stadium. First pitch of the WHAC Conference doubleheader is set for 1:00 PM.