Gray Wolves Take Both Games of Sunday Doubleheader vs. Softball

(Sylvania, OH)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team was back in Ohio Sunday afternoon for a second doubleheader in as many days in the Buckeye State, this time playing two against the Lourdes Gray Wolves.

In Game 1: Lourdes struck first in the bottom of the second inning, scoring three runs to open a 3-0 lead.  The Cougars answered with three runs of their own in the top of the third inning, tying the game.  After Grace Polega drew a leadoff walk, Brooke Williams hit a double to score Polega.  Two batters later, Carley Kalbfleisch hit a double to score Williams, making the score 3-2.  The rally continued when Summer Smith hit a single to score Kalbfleisch, making the score 3-3.  Lourdes would score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly, takinga 4-3 lead.  Cleary would get the tying run in scoring position in the sixth inning, and again in the seventh inning, but a double play in the seventh inning would result in the game's final out.

Kami Linton would suffer the loss, allowing 3 runs (2 earned), on 5 hits in 6 innings of action.  Brooke Williams had 2 hits with 1 R and 1 RBI for the Cougars.

In Game 2: Cleary would load the bases with only one out, setting up a Carley Kalbfleisch RBI fielder's choice to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage.  The Gray Wolves would get out of the jam without any further damage, and Cleary led 1-0 through one inning of play.  With Cleary still leading 1-0, Lourdes would put together a five-run bottom of the third inning to take control of the game.  Cleary would get work their way back into the game in the fifth inning.  Grace Polega hit a leadoff double, and later in the inning Ashleigh Tatara drew a two-out walk, bringing Carley Kalbfleisch to the plate.  Kalbfleisch tripled, scoring both Polega and Tatara, to make the score 5-3.  Cleary would get the tying run to the plate in each the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to get the hit they needed, as Lourdes escaped game one with a 5-3 score.

Jade Kupsky threw a complete game in a losing effort, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits with 3 strikeouts.  Grace Polega would go 2/4 with 2 runs, while Mckenzie Latshaw went 2/3 in the game.  Carley Kalbfleisch would have all 3 Cleary RBIs.

Cleary falls to 7-14 overall, 1-3 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back on the road next Saturday, March 28, when they travel to Livonia for a doubleheader against the Madonna Crusaders.  Game on is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.