Cleveland State travelled to Cartersville Georgia on Sunday February 5 and split a season opening doubleheader with Georgia Highlands winning the first game 7-3 while losing the nightcap 8-7.
Game One Recap
Freshman Kristen Fowler led the way for the Cougars launching two 3-run homers in a 13 hit attack as Bailee Phillips pitched a complete game victory for her first win of the season. Fowler's first long ball came in the third inning after Shelby Sullivan and Emily Higgins singles giving Cleveland a 3-0 lead. The Chargers answered quickly scoring three in their half of the third to tie the score.
Hope Ingle's RBI single plating Taylor Hancock in the sixth gave the Cougars a 4-3 advantage that they would never relinquish. In the seventh it was Fowler again driving a left field homerun scoring Phillips and Sullivan again who had each singled for the final 7-3 score.
Sullivan had three hits while Phillips and Lexi Vogel each kicked in with two along with Fowler and her two homeruns. Rounding out the hit parade with one hit each were Ingle, Higgins, Ally Starnes and Hancock.
Game Two Recap
Three Cougar homeruns were not enough as Highlands went for three of their in what was almost a top of the seventh come from behind Cleveland State win. Following a Charger second inning homerun Sullivan and Abby Starnes hit solo shots to give the Cougars a short lived 2-1 lead as Highlands scored three in their half of the third to take a 4-2 lead.
Following a four run outburst by Georgia Highlands in the bottom of the sixth giving them an 8-3 lead
Cleveland State sent nine players to the plate scoring four runs eventually leaving runners on second and third to lose the game 8-7. All Starnes and Carlynn Atamaniuk each had one RBI while Vogel knocked in two.
The Cougars banged out 13 hits with six players each with two; Atamaniuk, Sullivan, Abby Starnes, Fowler, Ally Starnes and Abby Reed. Ingle's lone hit was a fourth inning homerun with two walks with one intentional in the seventh inning. Starting pitcher Higgins took the loss.
What's Next
Weather permitting the Cougars are scheduled to host Calhoun on Thursday February 9, Shelton State on Friday February 10 and Lake Land College on Saturday February 11. All doubleheaders there is an $8 admission charge each day for the public. There is no admission charge for Cleveland State students.
