Cougars Drop Series to Columbia State
Cleveland State baseball (20-11, 6-6) dropped their weekend series against Columbia State, losing all three games.
Hooper Mills was on the mound for the Cougars in game one, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing 5 earned runs, 7 walks while striking out 4. The loss moves Mills' record to 5-1 on the season. Tyler Zak came on in relief, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing 1 walk while striking out 2.
The Cougars were able to keep the game close in the 7-6 loss to Columbia State. Joey Roberson smacked a home run in the game while Hunter Oliver, Logan Peterson, Cameron Payne and Trey Martin each collected an RBI in the matchup. Brandon Mason also stole a base in game one. Overall the Cougars had 6 runs off of 11 hits and led the game until the 5th inning when Columbia State tied the game up at 5 a piece, the Chargers scored two more runs in the 6th inning and ultimately won game one, 7-6.
Cleveland State dropped game two by a score of 14-3 to the Chargers. Collin Grove was on the mound for the Cougars, lasting 2 innings, allowing 4 earned runs, 3 walks with 1 strikeout. Corey Linz came on in relief and pitched 2 innings, allowing 1 earned run, 2 walks and a single strikeout. After that, Jared McDonald entered the game, pitching 3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs, 2 walks while striking out 2. Grove took the loss in this one, moving his record to 1-3 on the season.
The Cougars put up 3 runs on 8 hits thanks to home runs by Hunter Oliver and Trey Martin. Trey Vanderpool had a double while Hunter Oliver collected an RBI; Trey Martin had 2 RBI's in the game. All of the Cougars runs came in the 4th inning but were already facing a 8 run deficit by that point. After a scoreless 5th and 6th inning, the Chargers put up 6 more runs in the 7th, winning the game 14-3.
Ryan Lloyd was on the mound in game 3 for the Cougars, pitching 7 innings, allowing only 1 earned run, 2 walks while striking out 5. Gunnar Norwood and Greg Tye came on in relief each striking out 1. Lloyed ultimately took the loss, moving his record to 1-3 on the season. The Cougars had 10 hits in the game had struggled to move batters across home plate, only scoring one run. The lone run came from a Hunter Oliver home run, securing the only RBI for the Cougars. Noah Hill, Joey Roberson and Hunter Oliver each had a double in the game as well.
The series moves the Cougars record to 20-11 (6-6). Cleveland State will look to turn things around as they take on Bryan College in a doubleheader at home on Monday, March 26th starting at 2:00 PM.
