COUGARS FALL 7-4 TO VOLUNTEER STATE DESPITE READ’S BIG DAY
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
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0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Cleveland State Community College built an early advantage Friday at Cougar Field, but a pivotal sixth inning from Volunteer State shifted momentum as the Cougars dropped the game 7–4. The loss moves CSCC to 21–8 overall and 13–3 in TCCAA play.
Early in the game, the Cougars capitalized on situational offense. In the second inning, Jordan Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Hank Adams for a 1–0 lead. One inning later, Nelson McKnight scored on a wild pitch, extending the advantage to 2–0.
Shortstop Jon Jon Read delivered one of the strongest offensive performances of the season, finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. His ninth-inning double helped spark a late push as the Cougars attempted to climb back into the game.
Volunteer State broke through in the sixth inning with a five-run surge. Easton Denning doubled home the first run, followed by a two-run double from Tucker Smith that gave the Pioneers their first lead. Moments later, Noah Rice connected for a two-run homer, extending the margin to 5–2. Two additional runs in the seventh widened the gap.
Cleveland State Community College showed resilience in the ninth. Read doubled again, driving in Nate Severance and Jaxon Humble to cut the deficit to 7–4, but the rally came up short. Reliever JC Armour kept the Cougars within striking distance with two scoreless innings of work.
"We played well early and controlled the game for five innings, but one frame got away from us," said Head Coach Aaron Bryant. "I loved our fight in the ninth, and Jon Jon was tremendous all day. We'll learn from it and get ready for what's next."
