The end of April saw Cougar softball complete their season and conference play losing to Jackson State 7-3, 4-3, 12-2 and 4-2.
Cleveland State (15-33, 8-27) readies for the pre-tournament play-in game vs Motlow State at Volunteer State, the site for the TCCAA Region tournament which is slated to begin Monday. The Cougars must win the play in game on Sunday to edge their way into the double elimination tournament. First pitch is set for 2 p.m ET.
Game One
Down by seven rounds entering the fifth inning the Cougars scored twice on a two-run single by Emily Banks and added one more run in the sixth putting the final score at 7-3. Carly Frost (2-5) pitched three innings and took the loss while Erin Hollis pitched four innings surrendering one unearned run on two hits.
In what was a theme throughout the season, the Cougars banged out 12 hits but only scored three runs. Macy Bryant led the way with three hits, followed by Banks and Hannah Jones who had two each. Frost, Grayson Brown, Brittany Arnold, Bre Dunsmore and Rachael Goodson each contributed one hit.
Game Two
Cleveland State took a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning only to have Jackson State score three runs after two were out giving the Lady Generals a 4-3 lead and the eventual win.
Haley Hodgson (6-13) pitched an effective game but took the hard luck loss. Banks and Brown who had one of the games RBI's each had two hits while Rachel Pierce scored two runs and knocked in a run with a first inning homerun over the centerfield fence. Bryant, AJ Chancey and Jones rounded out the hitting with one hit each.
Bryant led off their half of the seventh with a hit but that was the final extent of a Cougars game winning rally.
Game Three
The lead off game on Cougar Sophomore celebration day, started with Jackson scoring four runs in the first inning. Cleveland State registered three of their game low six hits in their half of the first as Frost and Adri Jones who had two hits on the game led off with singles and were plated by a ground out off the bat of Chancey and a single by Arnold.
Kaley Cagle (5-10) who had a fourth inning single was the losing pitcher. Jackson State scored six runs in the sixth giving them 12 runs, as the Cougars only answer was a follow up single to center by Goodson for Cleveland State's sixth and final hit of the game.
Game Four
In what was a final heartbreaking loss for Cougar Softball, the Lady Generals and Cleveland State went toe to toe for nine innings as the Cougars tied the game in their half of the 7th scoring two runs only to have Jackson State score two in the 9th inning for their 4-2 win.
Haley Hodsgon (6-14) was on the losing end of the score. With the seventh inning heroics by Banks who drove in Frost and Pierce who had singled and doubled respectively to start the inning, Cougar softball left the winning run at third base with only one out. The eighth inning saw another chance for Cleveland State to win the game as runners were stranded on second and third.
