Cleveland State softball (25-21, 15-17) lost to the Walters State Lady Senators 7-4 on Tuesday, May 8 in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Region 7 Tournament, still leaving them as one of the three teams competing on the final day for the right to move on to the NJCAA National Tournament in St. George Utah.
The Cougars will play Chattanooga State in the loser's bracket finals at 12 n. on Wednesday May 9 and must win to play Walters State in the Championship game of the winner's bracket, scheduled for 2 p.m. A win by Cleveland State in that game will force a final game of the tournament since it would be Walter State's first loss in the double elimination championship format. That game is scheduled at 4 p.m.
The Cougars started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning on back to back singles by Shiann Stockwell and Rachel Pierce who each moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Grayson Brown, with Stockwell scoring on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Macy Bryant.
In the top of the 2nd the Lady Senators would send 9 batters to the plate, scoring three and taking a lead 3-1. Cleveland State would cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the 3rd when Bryant would strike again with a double to left center driving home Pierce who had reach base by an error.
In the 5th Walters State added another three run inning, taking a 6-2 lead. Cleveland State responded immediately with two runs in the bottom of the 5th as Brown homered, plating herself and Pierce who led off the inning, reaching base on an error.
Walters added another run in the top of the 7th which would finish the scoring of the game as the Cougars lined out three times in their half of the 7th losing the game 7-4.
Stockwell's record moved to 17-10 on the season as Cleveland State would strand seven runners on base and had chances to score in every inning. On the game, Emily Yell had two of the Cougars eight hits while Pierce, Brown, Bryant, Baylee Woods and Sadie Coons each had one.
May 9's schedule games will be played on the campus of tournament host Chattanooga State. Admission is $7 per day or a $20 tournament pass.