Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cougar pitcher Sara Heath didn’t need much help from her defense in a 7-0 one hit performance against the Raiders in game one.  The sophomore finished with 13 strikeouts and retired 20 batters in a row before a two out double in the bottom of the seventh by Alison Iuelle spoiled the no hitter.

 

The 19^th ranked Cougars (30-4, 20-4) tallied up eight hits in the game one victory.  Jessica Kohloff (3-4) picked up the loss for the Raiders (15-25, 9-13), allowing five earned runs while striking out two Cougars.

 

The first place Cougars picked up where they left off by scoring three runs to open up game two. Kohloff , who had three walks on the day, scored the Raiders first run of the evening to make it a 3-1 ball game after the first inning.  Both teams went scoreless in the second and sophomore Ashley Raap struck out the final two batters in the top of the 3^rd inning to hold on to the two run deficit.

 

Kohloff led off the bottom half of the third by reaching on another base on balls.  Two batters later, sophomore slugger Alison Iuelle cranked out her 7^th homer of the season over the left-center fence. Kellen Dewey  (3 for 3) lined her second single of the game on the next pitch from the Cougar pitcher, but she would be stranded at second base and after three, we had a tie ball game.

 

Coach Michael Clark’s troops quickly got back in front after a seven run fourth inning, including two homeruns; one from Tasia Diaz and another from LeAnne Tuuk.  After the second homer, Dewey came in to relief Ashley Raap and retired two of the next three batters to end the rally. 

 

The Cougars added one unearned run in the top of the 5^th inning, making it an 11-3 game going it what could have been the final half of inning.  Iuelle was not going to let that happen after she smashed another ball over the left-center fence on the first pitch thrown from Alexis Lenox.  That home run makes its 19 for her two year career thus fare at GRCC. Dewey followed Al up with another hit and the sophomore stole second leaving her in scoring position for Brittany Frye.  Originally Dewey was called out by the field umpire, but the home plate umpire made the correct call after a short discussion with his counterpart.  Frye then hit a liner up the middle scoring Dewey, in what would be the final run of the day for the Raiders.

 

Kalamazoo Valley scored four more runs in the top of the sixth and the Raiders didn’t have another rally left in them as they failed to score a run in the bottom half of the inning.  The visitors won 15-5 and left the Raiders in a must win situation for the remainder of the week if they want to qualify for regionals.

 

The Raiders will be home tomorrow and Wednesday and finish the regular season at Ancilla College on Friday afternoon.  It’s parent day tomorrow as the Raiders play host to the Indians of Lake Michigan College.