Cleveland State's home opener vs Shelton State on Friday February 10 went the way of their game results from week one as they split against Shelton losing the first game 5-3 while coming back to win game two 8-5. On the day the Cougars banged out 23 hits, 10 in game one and 13 in two for a .500 season record of 2-2.
Game One Recap
Shelton sent seven batters to the plate scoring two runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Cleveland State answered in the fourth fifth and sixth with single runs putting them up by one going into the top of the seventh.
Kristen Fowler who led off the fourth with a single came all the way home to score on an error by the centerfielder off a hit by Taylor Hancock. Back to back two out doubles by Shelby Sullivan and Emily Higgins in the fifth knotted the score at two. Then in the sixth inning Ally Starnes singled, stole second then tagged and moved to third on a long fly out by Hancock and came home to score on a Lexi Vogel ground out to second.
Shelton State retook the lead in the top of the seventh as they scored three runs for the eventual 5-3 win. Three Cougars had two hits each; Sullivan, Higgins, Fowler and Hancock while Hope Ingle, Ally Starnes and Vogel each had one for the 10 hit game total.
Game Two Recap
Game two again started with Shelton taking a short lived 3-0 lead into the third inning as the Cougars came back in their half scoring three runs to tie the game. Ingle led off with a single, Carlynn Atamaniuk followed with a double and both were driven home by an Abby Starnes single. A wild pitch moved Starnes to second who scored on a Higgins double for a score of 3-3.
In the fifth Cleveland State took the lead by one as Fowler singled stole second and came home on a two out double by Ally Starnes. Not to be out done Shelton answered immediately scoring two in the top of the sixth retaking the lead 5-4.
The final scoring leading to the 8-5 win was a four run outburst by the Cougars in the bottom of the sixth led by a leadoff walk by Ingle who was chased home with an Atamaniuk homerun. A single run scored on another free pass this time to Sullivan when pinch runner Summer Burkett scored on a two out double off the bat of Fowler who then scored the final run on an Ally Starnes single.
Hadley Burnette pitched the complete game win for her first win of the young season. Fowler had three hits while Atamaniuk and Ally Starnes each had two. Ingle, Abby Starnes, Sullivan, Higgins, Hancock and Lexi Vogel rounded out the 13 hit attack with one hit each.
What's Next
Cleveland State is scheduled Thursday February 16 for an away game in Tanner Alabama vs Calhoun Community College. Doubleheader start time is set for 2:00 p.m. EST.
