Softball Plays Pair of Drama Filled Games; Aquinas Takes Both

(Grand Rapids, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team was in West Michigan, as they took on perennial power Aquinas in a WHAC doubleheader Saturday afternoon on the campus of Cornerstone University.

In Game 1:  After spotting the Saints a 2-0 lead, Cleary exploded for six runs in the top of the second to take the lead themselves.  Jessica Garmen led off the inning with a walk, and advanced to third when Maddie Bunkoske reached on an error.  A Grace MacCaughan walk, followed by a Gabrielle Monreal single home Garmen to cut into the deficit, while keeping the bases loaded for the Cougars.  Mia Rzepka would draw a walk to tie the game, and Kate Currie followed that up with a bases clearing double, to make the score 5-2.  A wild pitch would advance Currie to third, and Jenna Wagenschutz singled Currie home, and Cleary led 6-2.  Aquinas responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, another in the third, and two more in the fifth to take the lead at 7-6.  Down to their last out in the top of the seventh, Jessica Garmen came up clutch, as she hit a game-tying home run to tie the game at 7-7, and extend the game.  In the bottom of the seventh, Cleary would give up a leadoff single, and with the runner in scoring position after a sacrifice bunt, an error scored the walk-off run for the Saints.

Caitlynn Duffey suffered the loss, allowing 1 unearned run in 2.1 innings pitched.  Jenna Wagenschutz went 2/4 with 1 RBI, while Kate Currie added 3 RBI and 1 run in the game.

In Game 2:  Aquinas would take the lead off Sonya Terleckyj in the bottom of the first, added another run in the fourth, and two more runs in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.  In the seventh, Jessica Garmen led off the inning by getting on base after reaching on an error, and Cleary followed that with a Maddie Bunkoske single, which advanced Garmen to third base.  Madi Best would reach on another Saint error, which allowed Garmen to score, and cut into Aquinas' lead.  Mckenzie Latshaw would hit a one-out single to score Bunkoske, and put the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs.  Unfortunately for the Cougars, they were uanble to keep the rally going, and dropped the game 4-2.

Sonya Terleckyj would suffer the loss for the Cougars, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 5.1 innings thrown.  Mckenzie Latshaw and Jenna Wagenschutz each had 2 hits to pace the Cougars on the day.

Cleary is now 7-15 overall, 2-4 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back in action Wednesday when they return to the friendly confines of Lake Trust Stadium with a doubleheader against the UNOH Racers.  First pitch is set for 3:30 PM.