Cleveland State opened their conference schedule this weekend and split the series 2-2.
After going undefeated in non-conference play, the Cougars (14-2, 2-2) suffered their first two losses of the season to Jackson State (6-10, 2-2), losing the second game of each day's double header.
Game One
Kylie Hayes (7-0) remained undefeated on the year pitching another complete game allowing six earned runs on 11 hits while striking out one and walking five.
Cleveland State entered the bottom of the third down 6-1 before putting five on the board to tie it up. Each team then scored one in the fourth, sixth and seventh sending the game into extra innings. The Green Jays were unable to score in the top of the eighth, and in the bottom half Ava Layne hit a walk-off home run for an 11-9 win.
Adding to her walk-off homer Layne also doubled in another run going 2-3 on the game scoring twice. Morgan Willingham also had three runs batted in. Torrey Cummings scored three times going 2-4 with a double and Abby Murrill went 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Game Two
Game two on the first day's double header also saw a lot of offense with 34 hits total in the game. Jackson State was up 7-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth where the Cougars scored four to tie the game. After a scoreless seventh the Green Jays plated five while Cleveland State could only get one on the board losing their first game on the season 12-8.
Kadence Brewer (5-1) pitched a complete game allowing seven earned runs on 15 hits while striking out two and walking three. Four Cleveland State errors defensively contributed to five unearned runs while the Green Jays did not commit an error in the game.
Kristen Fowler went 3-5 with a triple, coming home every time she reached base. Willingham went 3-4 driving in another three while Whitney Lee hit the Cougars only homerun also batting in three.
Game Three
Cleveland State finished game one of day two's double header early taking an 11-3 win in six innings via the eight-run rule.
The Cougars put up seven in the bottom of the second and didn't let the Green Jays gain momentum to get back into the game. Kylie Hayes (8-0) continued her hot start to the season pitching a complete game allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking three.
Layne and Cummings each double and drove in two, Fowler batted in two and Layla Pettigrew hit a double. Fowler, Murrill, and Caleigh White each scored twice. Jackson State committed four errors leading to nine unearned runs while Cleveland State did not commit an error in the game.
Game Four
The Green Jays took game two again of the double header, doubling up Cleveland State 10-5.
Errors played a role again with the Cougars committing four leading to four unearned Jackson State runs. Kadence Brewer (5-2) pitched a complete game one hitter allowing six earned runs while striking out six and walking one.
Kendyl Phillips drove a ball over the fence bringing home two runs going 2-3. Murrill went 3-4 also batting in two and scoring a run.
What's Next:
Cleveland State hits the road this week with a scheduled doubleheader at Chattanooga State (8-6, 2-0) on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled at 2 p.m., then a four-game series at Dyersburg State (8-6, 0-2) starting Friday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Currently with the inclement weather forecast game days and times are pending.
Steve Jaecks
Cleveland State Community College
Head Softball Coach
Edwin Bear
Cleveland State Community College
Sports Information/Media Relations
