In what started with a promising game one on Friday, Cougar softball beat conference rival Motlow State Lady Bucs 3-2 only to start a downhill slide by losing game two 4-1. In the four game series at Motlow in Tullahoma, Tn. Cleveland State (8-9, 2-6) would be shut out in games three and four on Saturday March 10 only collecting 5 hits in the two games.
Game One
Shiann Stockwell would win her 7th game of the season, striking out seven while scattering five hits in the complete 3-2 game victory. The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in to 6th inning when Macy Bryant reached base on a one out walk and came home to score on an RBI single off the bat of Cortney Mooneyham.
The Lady Bucs would take a short lived 2-1 lead in the 6th when the Cougars would score two of their own in the top of the 7th when Bryant would double home Hailey Galvan and Rachel Pierce who had started the innings with singles. The Cougars used 8 eights during the 3-2 win led by Bryant and Stockwell who each had two hits, while Galvan, Pierce, Mooneyham and Emily Yell each had one.
Game Two
Cleveland stated mounted a five hit attack scoring once in the 3rd inning when Sadie Coons singled to left and came in to score on a double by Pierce in the 4-1 loss. Starting pitcher Kaitlyn Pickens went five strong innings yielding two runs on four hits.
Single hits by Pierce, Bryant, Mooneyham, Yell and Coons were not enough as Pickens took a hard luck second loss of the season.
Game Three and Four
Games three and four saw the Cougar bats go silent when they were only able to muster 3 hits and two hits respectively. In the two 9-0 and 8-0 five inning losses, Mooneyham and Yell were 2-for-4 while Grayson Brown chipped in with a single. Pierce walked twice in game four.
Cleveland State returns to play on their home field on Tuesday, March 13 when they take on Kishwaukee College in a doubleheader. Game times are slated for 2 and 4 p.m.