Baseball opened their season in dominant fashion, recording two wins in a doubleheader with Southwest Virginia on Saturday.
GAME ONE-
The first game, the Cougars won 14-2 over the Flying Eagles in five innings.
The second inning was key to the victory, as Cleveland State scored 11 runs on five hits in the frame. Lance Dockery was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, while Andrew Carpenter drove in two runs in the inning by walking with the bases loaded twice. Alex Ray had a huge double that earned him three RBI, while Jonathan Hickman singled and drove in two runs of his own while also bringing in a run with a sacrifice fly. Ray and Hickman tied to lead the team in RBI in the game with three a piece.
Alex Coulter was two-for-three in the game, scoring three runs, driving in a run, and walking once. On the mound, Bryce Jenkins earned the win, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run in 4.0 innings pitched. Daniel Willie relieved Jenkins, allowing just one earned run and striking out one in an inning of work.
GAME TWO-
The second game was another strong one for the Cougars, as they won 15-4 in six innings.
Cleveland State put up a 4-0 lead after the second inning. After Southwest Virginia tied the game at four runs a piece in the top of the third inning, Cal Cook hit a home run in the bottom of the third to give the Cougars a 5-4 lead, a lead which they never relinquished.
It was a big game for the middle of the order. Carpenter went two-for-four with a walk and four runs scored. Both Hickman and Cook recorded three hits in two at-bats, with Hickman also posting a run scored and two RBI and Cook three RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Dockery was also two-for-four with three RBI along with a run scored.
Reese Plemmons was the winning pitcher in the contest, allowing just three earned runs and striking out four in three innings of work. Both Kaleb Orr and Brennan Davis concluded the game with three combined innings of relief.
The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they look to sweep Southwest Virginia in their opening series of the year. First pitch in tomorrow's single-game will be at 12:00 ET.
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