Softball Splits With UNOH in Pair of Pitchers Duals

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team came into the final week of the WHAC's regular season in eighth place, and the Cougars would play all six games against teams currently in the WHAC tournament, and played their final home games of the season against the UNOH Racers.  

In Game 1:  UNOH would start the game off with a home run off Halle Dargie in the top of the first inning.  The Cougars would tie the game in the bottom of the first, when Mckenzie Latshaw scored on a Jenna Wagenschutz suicide squeeze bunt.  The Cougars would take the lead in the fourth, when Jessica Garmen hit her team-leading eighth home run of the season.  That lead only lasted into the next inning, as the Racers tied the game on an RBI single.  Still tied 2-2 into the bottom of the sixth, Jessica Garmen led off the inning with a single (Sierra Diegel would pinch run).  The Cougars would get another runner on base, and advanced both into scoring position to bring up Grace Pasterik.  Pasterik would lay a suicide squeeze bunt, and the Racer pitcher threw the ball away attempting to get Diegel out at home, but the error gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead with only defensive outs to earn.  Halle Dargie was up to the task, even when things got interesting when the Racers loaded the bases, and was able to get out of the jam.

Dargie earned her sixth win of the season, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits in a complete game effort.  Jessica Garmen went 2/2, while Mckenzie Latshaw, Kate Currie, and Jenna Wagenschutz each added a hit apiece.

In Game 2:  The Racers would once again score first, when they hit a solo home run in the top of the second off Cougar pitcher Caitlynn Duffey.  That score would hold into the fifth, when UNOH added another pair of runs to take a 3-0 lead.  Cleary struggled to get the offense going throughout the game, as UNOH held the Cougars to three total hits, and allowing the Cougars to get into scoring position just twice in the contest.

Caitlynn Duffey suffered the loss for the Cougars, as she allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, while striking out 4 in a complete game.  Mckenzie Latshaw went 2/3, and Maddie Bunkoske added the third hit for the Cougars.

The game one win keeps Cleary alive for a postseason birth, as they are now 13-21, 8-10 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be on the road this Saturday to take on the first place Madonna Crusaders in a doubleheader.  First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 PM.