Softball Earns Split on Opening Day in Iowa
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 1 |
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0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | X | 9 | 10 | 0 |
(Davenport, IA)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team began their 2026 campaign Saturday, with a pair of games in the Ambrose Dome in Davenport, Iowa.
In Game 1 vs. Briar Cliff: Brook Williams led off the game with a single, and scored one batter later, when Grace Polega tripled to make it 1-0. Polega wold score three batters later on a Courtney Witten single, and Cleary led 2-0 after one inning. Briar Cliff would score one run in the second inning to cut the Cougar lead in half, but Cleary answered in the third with another run. Courtney Witten would hit a two-out single to get on, and was brought home to score on a Paulina O'Donohue RBI single, making it 3-1. Briar Cliff would storm back to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third, setting up some late drama.
In the sixth inning, Grace MacCaughan and Sierra Diegel each singled to get on with one out. Brooke Williams would double home one run, and Grace Polega would hit her second RBI triple of the game, to score two more runs, and gave the Cougars a 6-4 lead. Polega would ultimately score on an RBI groundout from Olivia DeJohn to make it 7-4. Cleary would allow one runner to reach in the bottom of the seventh, but were able to get out of the inning, ending the game on a double play.
Kami Linton would earn her first career win in a complete game effort, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts. Brooke Williams, Grace Polega, Courtney Witten, and Paulina O'Donohue each had 2 hits to pace the offense.
In Game 2 vs. St. Ambrose: St. Ambrose would strike first with a run in the first inning, and another in the third, taking a 2-0 lead. The bulk of the damage was done in the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Bees scored 7 runs. Cleary's offense would be held in check, and the game would end after five innings with a final score of 9-0.
Haley Ludwig would suffer the loss for Cleary, allowing 9 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits. Cleary had 2 hits in the game, with one each coming from Brooke Williams and Ashleigh Tatara.
Cleary is 1-1 to open the season, and will play another doubleheader tomorrow morning. The Cougars will take on the Chargers of Briar Cliff at 9:30 AM ET, and the Flames of the College of Saint Mary at 11:45 AM ET. Both games will be played at the Ambrose Dome in Davenport, IA.