April 14, 2017

COUGARS SPLIT DH, DROP SERIES TO SOUTHWEST

Defensive inconsistencies proved costly to Cleveland State on Friday.

The Cougars (28-13, 11-10) were able to split their doubleheader with Southwest Tennessee (8-39, 5-16), winning 9-0 and then losing 9-6 but ultimately dropped the series 2-1 following Friday's 9-4 loss.

"We wasted opportunities this weekend, losing the series at home," Cleveland State coach Mike Policastro commented.

"When you cannot defend consistently it allows teams extra outs, which they usually capitalize on."

In game one, Cleveland State defeated Southwest Tennessee 9-0, with Jake Rogers (8-0) throwing a two-hit shutout. Rogers struck out 15 and walked two.

Cleveland State's offense was ramped up in that first game, with four players banging out homeruns.

The Cougars scored their first run in the first inning and then added four more in the third.

Another run was scored in the fourth inning and Cleveland State's final three runs followed in the bottom of the fifth.

The Cougars banged out 16 hits in game one.

Sean McDermott was 3-for-4 at the plate, with a homerun and two doubles. McDermott had two RBIs and scored two runs. John Hennen went 4-for-4, which included a two-run homer. Hennen had a total of three RBI's and scored two runs.

Billy Brand was 2-for-4 at the plate, with a two-run homer. John Sharpe was 1-for-4, with his lone hit being a home run. Brett Browning also drove in an RBI.

The afternoon took a different turn in the final game of the series, as the Saluqis handed the Cougars a 9-6 loss.

"The game went back and forth until Southwest scored five runs in the sixth inning to take the lead," Policastro detailed.

Southwest Tennessee had a 3-1 lead after the first inning, but Cleveland State cut their deficit to just one run after scoring one in the bottom of the third.

It soon became a two-run lead again though, with the Saluqis up 4-2 after the fourth inning.

The Cougars took a 6-4 lead in the fifth inning, but giving up five runs in the sixth proved to be their downfall.

Corey Linz (3-4) took the loss, throwing five innings and striking out six batters.

Devon Gardner went 3-for-3 at the plate, including a double. Sean McDermott went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Billy Brand was 1-for-4, with his one hit being a three-run double.

Cleveland State hosts West Georgia Technical College on Tuesday, in a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.

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