The Cleveland State baseball team spit its doubleheader with Vincennes University on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field.
The Cougars let an early lead get away from them in the first game of the day dropping a 7-5 decision to the Trailblazers before bouncing back to take the back end of the twinbill by a final score of 8-3.
Zach Janes tripled and scored on a single from Michael Hargrove in the bottom of the first of game one to get the Cougars off and running. Cody Hiefnar doubled and scored in the second frame on a single from DeAndre Allen and Hargrove pushed in a third run by coaxing a bases loaded walk for a 3-0 lead.
The Trailblazers tied the game with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth on a two-run double by Alex Kohler. The visitors then put a four-spot on the board an inning later on a two-run double by Wade McNabb, a sacrifice fly and a single from Dakota Rogers to push the lead to 7-3.
Hiefnar doubled again and scored in the sixth and the Cougars tacked on another run in the seventh, but the rally would fall short as they dropped game one. Nick Nauracy started on the hill for Vincennes while Ryan Cheek picked up the win and Bryan Nacke added the save. Thomas Huddleston took the loss for the Cougars while Bobby Towne came on in relief.
The Cougars scored early and often in game two. Vincennes took a brief 1-0 lead with and unearned run in the top of the first, but the Cougars took the lead for good in the second with three runs of their own. A fielders choice, an error and an RBI single from Evan Speicher gave the home team a 3-1 lead.
Back to back doubles from Chase Edwards and Dalton Rogers pushed the lead to 4-1 in the third and a three-run blast into the tennis courts beyond the right field fence from Hargrove gave the Cougars a 7-1 advantage in the fourth.
The Trailblazers got two of those runs back in the sixth on a two-run dinger by Drew Rosbottom, but the Cougars closed the deal as Edwards slammed a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to seal the win for the Cougars.
Cleveland State pounded out 18 hits for the afternoon (13 in game two). Jeb Scoggins tossed six strong innings for the Cougars (3-1) to get the win on the mound while Andre Wilson tossed a scoreless inning in relief. Trent Simpson suffered the loss for the Trailblazers.
After finishing the three game set with Vincennes on Sunday afternoon at noon, weather permitting, the Cougars will host Gordon College on Tuesday in a single game and the University of the Cumberlands for a double dip on Thursday.