Softball Falls Twice to Golden Eagles

(Grand Rapids, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team was in Grand Rapids Saturday to take on the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone in a WHAC double-header.

In Game 1: After Grace Pasterik and Lauren Gannon hit a pair of singles to lead off the third inning, Cleary would take the lead when Mia Rzepka hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Pasterik.  Cornerstone would take the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run.  Cornerstone's lead grew to six runs in the fifth inning, when they added five runs to make the score 7-1.  In the sixth inning, Mia Rzepka and Olivia DeJohn led off the inning with back to back singles to bring up Maddie Bunkoske.  Bunkoske doubled to left center to score Rzepka.  Olivia DeJohn would score on the next at bat on a passed ball.  Later in the inning, with Maddie Bunkoske on third, Arianna Harden grounded out to the shortstop, but it was enough to bring Bunkoske home, and the Cougars trailed 4-7.  In the seventh inning, and with the Cougars' first two batters were retired, Lauren Gannon hit a two-out single.  That would be as far as the rally would get, as Cleary's next batter was retired, and the game ended 7-4.

Haley Ludwig suffered the loss for the Cougars, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in 5.1 innings of work.  Lauren Gannon, Olivia DeJohn, and Maddie Bunkoske each recorded two hits for the Cougars.

In Game 2:  Cleary would start game two off with a three run top half of the inning.  Mia Rzepka and Olivia DeJohn each singled with one out, and Maddie Bunkoske drew a walk to load the bases.  Mckenzie Latshaw would do enough to score Rzepka on a sacrifice fly, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.  After Arianna Harden singled to reload the bases, Gabrielle Monreal reach on a fielding error, allowing DeJohn and Bunkoske to both score, as Cleary led 3-0.  A Golden Eagle solo home run got the hosts on the board in the second inning.  The Cougar responded in the thirdwhen Gabrille Monreal scored on an RBI double by Jenna Wagenschutz, making the score 4-1.  Cornerstone scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.  The Cougars would tie the game in the top of the sixth, however, when Mia Rzepka doubled and later scored on an RBI single by Olivia DeJohn to tie the game at 5-5.  After the Cougars were held scoreless in the top of the seventh, Cornerstone got their magical moment, hitting a walk-off two-run home run to end the game.

Haley Ludwig suffered the loss in relief, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit in 2.2 innings of work.  Halle Dargie allowed 5 runs on 6 hits in 4 innings.  Mia Rzepka and Olivia DeJohn each went 2/4 at the plate, while Lauren gannon, Mckenzie Latshaw, Arianna Harden, and Jenna Wagenschutz each had one hit.

Cleary drops to 15-23 overall, 11-11 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will play their final regular season WHAC double-header on Wednesday, April 23, when they host the Indiana Tech Warriors for Senior Day.  The Senior Day festivities will begin at approximately 2:30 PM, and first pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 PM.