Cleveland State Wins Season Opener Against Gordon State

  • Friday, February 10, 2017

Cleveland State baseball opened the 2017 season with an impressive 14-7 win over Gordon State College Friday afternoon.

 

"Our offense was dialed in today from the first pitched.

We pounced out 20 hits and were able to overcome walks and never let Gordon get momentum. It was a good first day," declared head coach Mike Policastro.

 

The Cougars had 20 hits in the game, while allowing their hosts only six.

 

With two outs in the top of the first, Devin Gardner doubled to put the Cougars on the board. The inning ended when Gardner was caught attempting to steal third base.

 

Cleveland State’s next run came in the top of the third. Already an out on the board, John Anderson set the stage with a triple. Jordan Ransom was then handed a free pass to first base. A sac fly by John Hennen was enough to bring Anderson in for the second run.

 

The Cougars took a 3-0 lead over Gordon State in the top of the fourth. Brand doubled and then two batters later, was brought in by Hagan Kennedy.

 

Gordon State made it a game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to tie things up.

After starting the top of the fifth out with a triple, Ransom reached home during Hennen’s at bat. Three up, three down brought the Cougars back up to bat in the top of the sixth. John Sharpe was walked and then Kennedy homered to make it 6-3.

 

Four more runs were scored by Cleveland State in the top of the seventh to take a 10-3 lead over Gordon State. A single by Sharpe advanced Gardner to second and brought Sean McDermott in and then a hit from Kennedy advanced Sharpe to second while bringing Gardner home. Brett Browning was walked, loading up the bases with one out left.

 

Gordon State walked Anderson bringing another runner across home plate. Ransom was hit by a pitch, allowing Kennedy to score on the walk.

 

The home team answered back with four runs of their own, making it 10-7.

 

McDermott and Gardner both scored in the top of the eighth and Ransom and Hennen scored Cleveland State’s final two runs in the top of the ninth. Ransom was driven in by a double from McDermott.

 

Grant Crosby pitched 3.2 innings, striking out three and allowing three hits and three earned runs. Corey Linz got the win, pitching 2.1 innings, striking out two and allowing two hits and two earned runs. In total, the Cougars’ pitching staff struck out 10 Gordon State batters.

 

Kennedy went 3-for-5 with a homerun, drove in four teammates and scored two runs in Barnesville. Hennen went 2-for-3, with two RBI and a run. John Sharpe also brought in two runners, going 2-for-4 at the plate and scoring two runs as well.

 

Jordan Ransom was 3-for-4 at the plate, including a triple and a double, with three runs and a RBI. Sean McDermott and Gardner both went 3-for-5 at the plate, with each hitting a double, scoring two runs and driving in a Cougar base runner. In six at bats, Billy Brand had two hits, including a double a RBI and a run. John Anderson was 1-for-4 at the plate, with his lone hit being a triple to drive in a runner. He also scored a run. Brett Browning also had a double.

 

Cleveland State faces Columbia State in Barnesville Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and then takes on Bryant & Stratton College at 3 p.m.

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