Friday, April 6, Cleveland State softball (15-18, 7-15) played host to the Volunteer State Lady Pioneers in a conference doubleheader, losing game one 6-3 while winning the nightcap 5-3 in a five-inning rain-shortened game. The scheduled doubleheader on Saturday, April 7th was cancelled due to unplayable field conditions caused by inclement weather.
In game one the Cougar bats were stymied by the Volunteer State pitching collecting only five hits in the game while falling behind 6-0 leading into their half of the 4th inning. With two outs Cortney Mooneyham launched a solo home run to the scoreboard in left field and one batter later was joined by Shiann Stockwell who hit a 2-run homer over the left field fence plating catcher Baylee Woods who had singled. Stockwell took the loss (11-8) giving up six hits while striking out seven.
On the game Woods had two hits, Sadie Coons had one hit while Mooneyham and Stockwell each had a home run.
The Cougars scored in three out of the five innings played in game two. With one in the 1st inning, Macy Bryant doubled home Stockwell who had singled to center. In the 3rd Stockwell once again led off the inning with a singled and after a Bryant single was driven home by Mooneyham who lashed a single up the middle. Finally with two outs in the 4th Cleveland State strung four singles and a double in a row to score their final three runs. Coons, Stockwell and Grayson Brown with singles were driven home by Brown, Bryant, and Mooneyham respectively. Mooneyham's hit was a double to left center.
Cleveland State was given a scare when Kaitlyn Pickens who started and won her first game of the season as hit in the upper chest by a line drive in the 3rd inning. She would recover and finish the game that was called in the bottom of the when a steady rain made the field unplayable. The Cougars had the bases loaded with two out when the call was made by the umpires.
The Cougars 5-run, 11 hit attack included three hits each by Stockwell and Bryant, Mooneyham and Coons each with two hits and Brown with one.
Up next for the Lady Cougars, conference play continues on Friday, April 13th, and Saturday, April 14th when Cougar softball is scheduled to play out of town doubleheaders vs. Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis TN. Friday's games are set to start at 4 and 6 p.m. EST while Saturday's games are slated to begin at 12 n. and 2 p.m. EST.