Softball Takes Game Two After Rain Delay to Split with St. Francis

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team played their final regular season games of the year at home Friday evening, as they took on the University of St. Francis Fighting Saints in a non-conference double-header.

In Game 1:  The Fighting Saints scored twice in the top of the second, once in the fourth and fifth innings, and added three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-0 lead.  Arianna Harden led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, followed by a Gabrielle Monreal infield single, to bring up Jenna Wagenschutz.  Wagenschutz doubled to straightaway center field, scoring Harden, to make the score 7-1.  The Fighting Saints would get the next two Cleary batters out.  Down to their final out, Mia Rzepka would hit a rocket at the third baseman who was unable to field the ball, allowing Rzepka to double and scoring Wagenschutz and Monreal for the Cougars' second and third runs.  Unfortunately, the rally would end there, as the next Cougar was retired to end the game.

Haley Ludwig suffered the loss, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits in 4 innings of action.  Mia Rzepka went 2/3 with 2 RBI, while Lauren Gannon, Paulina O'Donohue, Arianna Harden, Gabrielle Monreal, Jenna Wagenschutz, and Summe Smith each recorded one hit in the game.

In Game 2:  Just as the teams were getting ready for first pitch, lightning struck in the area, causing a delay that lasted almost an hour.  Once the lightning cleared, the two teams returned to the field in what would be a rainy game two.  Lauren Gannon led off the bottom of the first with a walk, and advanced to third on a throwing error.  A safety squeeze bunt by Olivia DeJohn would score Gannon to give the Cougars the early lead.  Arianna Harden would score Mia Rzepka on an RBI groundout to make the score 2-0.  After the Fighting Saints scored a run in the top of the third, Cleary answered with four more runs.  Olivia DeJohn hit a one-out single, followed by Arianna Harden reaching on a hit by pitch, and Mckenzie Latshaw walked to load the bases.  Paulina O'Donohue singled to score DeJohn and Harden, and gave the Cougars a 4-1 lead.  After Gabrille Monreal walked to reload the bases, Sierra Diegel singled to center scoring two more runs, and the Cougars lead grew to five runs.  St. Francis scored twice in the top of the fourth, and added two more runs in the top of the sixth to get within one run.  In the bottom half of the inning, Mia Rzepka led off with a single to get a runner on.  After a fielder's choice allowed Olivia DeJohn to reach base, Arianna Harden and Mckenzie Latshaw both walked to load the bases.  With two outs, Summer Smith hit a single to center that scored DeJohn and Harden, and gave the Cougars the insurance runs they needed to comfortably retire the Fighting Saints in the top of the seventh inning.

Halle Dargie threw a complete game, and allowed 5 runs on 12 hits with 2 strikeouts.  Cleary had six total hits, with Mia Rzepka, Olivia DeJohn, Arianna Harden, Paulina O'Donohue, Summer Smith, and Sierra Diegel each recording one hit for the Cougars.

Cleary ends the regular season with an 18-24 record. The 18 wins is the most for the program since the 2019 season.

The Cougars will look ahead to the WHAC Tournament, where they will open play on Wednesday at Pacesetter Park in Sylvania, Ohio.  Their opponent and game time for game one is still to be determined.