COUGARS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH GEORGIA HIGHLANDS
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
|
|
7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | X | 14 | 13 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Cleveland State Community College split a competitive doubleheader with Georgia Highlands College on Tuesday at Cougar Field, opening the day with a 14–7 win before dropping the nightcap 6–2.
The Cougars set the tone early in Game 1, erupting for seven runs in the first inning and cruising behind a powerful offensive performance. Cleveland State finished with 13 hits, including home runs from Nolan Sergeant, Evan Leonard, and Riley Mahan. Sergeant drove in three runs, while Mahan added a three-run homer and scored four times. Leonard picked up the win on the mound, striking out seven over four innings, and Anthony Biondo earned the save with three solid innings of relief.
"We came out aggressive and played the kind of baseball we expect to play," head coach Aaron Bryant said. "That first game showed what we're capable of when we compete pitch to pitch and apply pressure offensively."
Georgia Highlands answered in Game 2, using timely hitting and effective pitching to secure a 6–2 victory. Cleveland State's offense was highlighted by solo home runs from Jon Jon Read and Hank Adams, but the Cougars were limited to seven hits overall as Georgia Highlands pitchers combined for eight strikeouts.
Bryant noted the value of the split as the season progresses, adding that the team will use the experience as fuel moving forward. "Game two didn't go our way, but there are lessons there," Bryant said. "These are the kinds of games that help us grow as a team."
