COUGARS TAKE SERIES 2-1 OVER MOTLOW STATE
Cleveland State claimed their conference series with Motlow State after winning two of the weekend’s three games.
Cleveland State claimed their conference series with Motlow State after winning two of the weekend's three games.
On Friday, the Cougars (14-4, 4-2) picked up an 8-5 win and then extended their win streak for the week to six games Saturday with an 11-2 win in the first game of their doubleheader.
Unfortunately, that win streak was capped at six after the Bucks (10-14, 3-3) bounced back to win the third and final game 7-3.
"I am glad we won the series, but we had a chance to go for the sweep and let it slip away in game three," Cleveland State head coach Mike Policastro said.
"Jake Rogers was in control in game one and our offense was able to post up 11 runs. We had offense throughout our lineup. In game two we could not get out of our own way. We gave up too many free bases with walks, wild pitches or baseballs that led to Motlow runs, that we could not overcome."
Game 1
The Cougars dominated Motlow State 11-2 in the first game of their Saturday doubleheader.
Cleveland State had 16 hits, while pitcher Jake Rogers (4-0) held the Bucks to just four hits after striking out 11 batters.
Motlow State put the first run of the game up on the board and took a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third inning, where the Cougar bats picked things up and drove in five runs.
Another run was scored by Cleveland State in the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth inning, Motlow State scored their second and final run, while the Cougars picked up another four.
Both Sean McDermott and Cameron Payne both had homeruns in the game, McDermott's resulting in three RBIs. Payne also hit two doubles. Brett Browning knocked out a triple and another double came from the bat of Devon Gardner.
McDermott was 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and scored once, Gardner was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Payne was 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs and John Sharpe went 2-for-3 in the first game with an RBI and two runs of his own.
Game 2
Both Cleveland State and Motlow State had five hits in Saturday's second game, but it was the Bucks who were able to finish with a 7-3 win over the Cougars.
After the first inning, the teams found themselves tied at one. Motlow State took a 2-1 lead after the fourth inning and in the top of the sixth, picked up five more run to take a 7-1 lead. The Cougars were able to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to put any offense together in the seventh inning.
Sharpe, who was 2-for-3, and Gardner, who was 1-for-2 at the plate, both had doubles in the game. Gardner, McDermott and Ransom each had an RBI.
Cory Linz (2-1) picked up his first loss from the mound, pitching five and two-third innings and giving up three hits and three earned runs. Linz struck out nine Buck batters.
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