The Cougars had things go their way on Wednesday
when they topped Noble 8-4, but couldn't quite get over the hump in their 7-5 loss to Salem on Thursday.
At Noble, the Cougars got a complete-game
pitching performance from Ian King and the offense banged out 11 hits in their win over the Wildcats.
King tossed seven full innings allowing all 4 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks,
and a career high 9 strikeouts while Tanner Bushue and Shane Donoho each rapped out three hits apiece to lead the offense.
On Thursday, the Cougars were not scheduled to play, so they picked up
a game with Pana to make-up for all the rainouts, but a last-minute cancellation by the Panthers left the Cougars high and
dry.
Luckily, the Salem Wildcats had an opening in their schedule and agreed to
travel to Kinmundy to fill the void.
Although Salem came out on top in this one, the Cougars made things interesting
before game's end.
Trailing 5-0 after five innings, the Cougars got on the board by scoring three
times in the sixth. But the Wildcats responded with two more of their own in their half of the seventh to make it 7-3. Then
things got interesting.
Tyler Gillett made it 7-4 with a one-out solo home run before three consecutive
singles made it 7-5.
Now with one out and runners on 1st and 2nd, Ian King drove a long fly
ball to left that looked like a game-winner, but it was caught at the top of the wall for out number two.
Ryan Gesell then did his part when he followed with a liner up the middle,
but it was snagged by the Salem pitcher to end the game.
Sophomore Derek Harmeier absorbed the loss as he threw all seven innings allowing
all 7 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts.
King was the only Cougar with more than one hit as he wound up with a single
and a double to lead the offense.
The Cougars return to action on Monday when they host the Teutopolis Wooden
Shoes at 4:30 PM.
