Softball Suffers Heartbreaking Losses at UM-Dearborn

(Farmington, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team was on the road Wednesday afternoon, as they took on the UM-Dearborn Wolverines in a WHAC doubleheader at The Hawk in Farmington.

In Game 1:  Maddie Bunkoske hit a one-out double, and later scored after a defensive error, to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead in the second inning.  The Wolverines would answer with a run in the third, and two more in the fourth, to take a 3-1 lead.  In the sixth inning, Jessica Garmen hit her fifth home run of the season to cut the deficit to one run.  Maddie Bunkoske kept the rally going with a double, followed by an Arianna Harden single to put the runners on the corners (Grace MacCaughan would pinch run for Harden).  The next batter, Grace Pasterik did her job, and got the tying run home after reaching on a fielder's choice, but the rally would stall after that at bat, and extra innings would be required.  After failing to score in the eighth and ninth, the Wolverines would get the leadoff runner on base in the bottom of the ninth, and she would score on a single to allow the Wolverines to earn the walk-off win.

Caitlynn Duffey would suffer the loss in relief, allowing 1 run on 3 hits in 4 innings pitched.  Maddie Bunkoske led the Cougars with 2 hits and 2 runs scored in the game.

In Game 2:  The Cougars would start game two off strong, as they scored a pair of runs to take the early lead.  Mckenzie Latshaw would single, and Mia Rzepka and Kate Currie would both get on base to load the bases.  Jenna Wagenschutz would reach on a fielder's choice, but Latshaw would score, to make the score 1-0.  After Jessica Garmen was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Maddie Bunkoske came through again, this time singling to left field to score Currie.  A Wolverine home run would cut the Cougar lead to 2-1, but Cleary responded in the fifth.  Mia Rzepka reached on an error, and then stole second to get in scoring position.  A Jenna Wagenschutz single would put runners on the corners, and Arianna Harden singled to score Rzepka, and Cleary would regain their two run advantage.  The Wolverines would get out of the jam, getting the next two batters out, and used the newfound momentum to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.  Cleary would get the go-ahead run to the plate with one out in the top of the seventh, but were unable to score, as the game would end by a 5-3 scoreline.

Sonya Terleckyj would suffer the loss, as she allowed 4 runs on 7 hits in 4.1 innings thrown.  Jenna Wagenschutz and Arianna Harden each went 2/4 at the plate to lead the Cleary attack.

The Cougars are now 9-19 overall, 4-8 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back in action on Saturday, April 12, when they host the Siena Heights Saints in a WHAC doubleheader.  The Cougars will also recognize the four seniors that make up this year's senior class as part of it's Senior Day festivities.  The game will start at 1:00 PM.