Softball Splits Pair of Games at Space Coast Games on Thursday

(Viera, FL)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team saw their bats come alive in game one, but then go cold in game two, as the team went 1-1 on the day at the Space Coast Games in Viera, Florida.

In Game 1 vs. Ave Maria: Grace Polega led off the game with a double, and then later scored on an error giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.  The Cougars continued to capitalize on defensive miscues, and held a 3-0 lead before they ever needed to play defense.  The Gyrenes would respond in the bottom of the first inning, tying the game at 3-3.  Olivia DeJohn would hit a two-run single to give the Cougars back the lead in the second, and a Brooke Williams sacrifice fly made it 6-3.  In the third, Cleary tacked on three more runs, thanks to a Sierra Diegel two-run triple and a Grace Polega single, making the score 9-3 after three innings of action.  The game would slow down over the next couple innings, but Cleary would add three more runs in the top of the sixth.  Mckenzie Latshaw would hit a two-run triple, and two batters later, Paulina O'Donohue had an RBI groundout, making the score 12-3.

That would be all Kami Linton would need, as she would finish the game without allowing any more runs to score, finishing with 3 runs on 9 hits with 1 strikeout in 6 innings of work.

Grace Polega started a new hit-streak, going 3/4 in the leadoff spot.  Mckenzie Latshaw and Sierra Diegel would each have 2 hits at the plate.

In Game 2 vs. Bethel: Game two was the opposite of game one from a runs scored perspective, though the Cougars did have their chances.  Allie Hawkins would find herself on third base with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Cleary could not bring her home.  Cleary found themselves in danger in the top of the sixth inning, after allowing the first two runners to reach.  A 6-3 double play made it appear that the Cougars would get out of the jam, but a two-out double by the Pilots scored the game's first run, making the score 1-0.  A leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth would put a Cougar in scoring position, but the bats would be unable to advance the runner, and the Pilots left the inning unscathed.  Cleary's final chance would come in the bottom of the seventh, when they were able to get a runner in scoring position with two outs, but the rally would fall short on a fly out, ending the game with a 1-0 score.

Jade Kupsky suffered the loss, allowing 1 run on 6 hits with 1 strikeout in a complete game effort.  Grace Polega would go 2/3 at the plate, while Carley Kalbfleisch and Brooke Williams had 1 hit apiece.

Cleary is now 3-8 on the season, and will conclude their time in Florida with a final doubleheader on Friday.  The Cougars will play Hannibal-Lagrange at 10 AM, and Clarke at 2:30 PM.