Softball Comes Up Short in Day Two Doubleheader

(Davenport, IA)-- The Cleary Cougar softball team will return to Michigan with a 1-3 record, after they fell in each game on day two of the Ambrose Tournament in Iowa.

In Game 1 vs. Briar Cliff:  The Chargers would take advantage of a lead-off single, advancing the runner to third on back to back sacrifice bunts, and getting the critical hit to bring home the runner.  Cleary would get out of a no-out, bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh, but would go three up, three down to end the game with a 1-0 final score.

Haley Ludwig was stellar pitching, throwing a complete game, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits, and striking out 8 batters.

In Game 2 vs. Saint Mary:  The Flames would score three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead.  The Cougars would answer in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs.  Sierra Diegel and Allie Hawkins each got on base, and were advanced on a sacrifice bunt.  Grace Polega would single home both runners to get the Cougars on the board.  Saint Mary would respond with four runs in the top of the fourth, and two more in the top of the sixth, taking a 9-2 lead.  Cleary would build a rally in the bottom of the sixth, when Leah Schumann and Courtney Witten each got on base to start the inning.  Carley Kalbfleisch doubled home both runners to make it 9-4.  After a groundout, Kalbfleisch would score on an error, making it 9-5.  Unfortunately, the rally would end there, and the Flames added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to take game two 11-5.

Kami Linton would suffer the loss, allowing 7 runs on 7 hits.  Halle Dargie and Sara Brunell would each throw 1.2 innings in relief.

Cleary finishes the opening weekend 1-3, and will return to action in March when they play John Melvin Christian College in a doubleheader before participating in the Space Coast Games later that week.