Cougar News
Softball - Tue, Mar. 19, 2013
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - It has been a tremendously slow start to the 2013 campaign for the Mid-Continent University softball team. On Tuesday, the Cougars played their second Transouth double header of the season, and the red-hot #23 Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions roared to a pair of wins.
Mid-Continent (2-12, 1-3) fell victim to the Lady Lions' offense late in both games of the twin bill, as Freed-Hardeman (15-5, 4-0) swept Mid-Continent away by scores of 5-0 and 9-1.
In the first game, neither team scratched anything across in the first four innings, but in the fifth, Freed-Hardeman struck big. Freed-Hardeman plated five runs off Mid-Continent's Colby Smith - though just one run was earned - and that proved to be all the Lady Lions needed. Mid-Continent was held to just two hits in the game, and the Lady Lions took game one 5-0.
Sarah Elizabeth Cousar (10-2) earned the win for Freed-Hardeman, throwing the two-hit shutout and fanning 13 Cougars. Smith (1-3) took the loss, yielding five runs - one earned - on four hits, five walks, and two strikeouts. Smith and Rachel Brueggeman each had hits in the game, with Smith belting a double in the loss.
Mid-Continent took the early lead in game two, taking advantage of a pair of Freed-Hardeman miscues in the first inning to plate an unearned run. Brueggeman doubled home Bry Navarro after her at bat had been extended by a dropped pop-up, putting Mid-Continent on top, where they stayed until the bottom of the fourth. In the fourth inning, Freed-Hardeman plated two unearned runs off of Mid-Continent sophomore Lindsey Rucker, and the frame kick-started the Lady Lions' offense. Freed-Hardeman added seven runs in the next two innings - only three of which were earned - taking the run-rule victory 9-1 in six innings.
Rucker (1-7) allowed 12 hits and nine runs in five and two-thirds innings of work, walking one and striking out four, while Cousar earned her second victory of the day, yielding an unearned run on three hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts in six innings. Navarro, Brueggeman, and Courtney Woods each had hits in the game for Mid-Continent, with Brueggeman's double as the only extra-base knock.
Mid-Continent will be back in action on Thursday, heading to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to take on the NAIA #7 Williams Baptist College Lady Eagles (19-1) in a non-conference twin bill. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
