Things started off ugly for the Cougars in the very first inning when they committed 2 errors to open the door and the Hearts took advantage by lacing 3 consecutive singles to take an early 2-run lead. The 3rd inning was not much better as the Cougars booted two more chances, allowing another run to score.

Sandwiched in between that mess was a 2-run homer by Wodtka to keep the Cougars close at 3-2. But again in the 4th, another fielding error allowed the lead-off runner to reach base and Effingham's Andy Hoffman followed with a long blast over the left-centerfield fence to extend the lead to 5-2.

The Cougars tied things up in their half of the 4th when Jeremy Chasteen doubled into the right field corner, Matt Hicks and Tyler Burns reached safely on perfectly executed bunt hits, and Brock Adams rifled a shot into the right-centerfield gap to clear the bases.

Chasteen came on in relief in the 5th to shut-out the Hearts the rest of the way and the Cougars used their half of the 7th to plate the winning run.

Adams led off the inning and reached base when he was hit by a pitch. Jason Shirley promptly singled to left and that brought up Kevin Wilkins with runners on first and second. He grounded to the right side, and after a force-out at 2nd, the winning run was only 90 feet away. 

Wodtka stepped into the box and lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score pinch-runner Louis Daugherty from third and the Cougars had captured their 13th win of the season.

Starting pitcher Spencer Patton, Brian Wodtka, and Jeremy Chasteen combined to allow only 6 Effingham hits and of the 5 runs scored by the Hearts, only 1 was considered earned. Chasteen got the win, running his record to 7-2, as he pitched the final 3 innings.

The Cougars return to action this weekend when they host the first annual "Cougar Wooden Bat Classic". Casey-Westfield will be the first opponent in Friday's first game, scheduled to start at 4:30 P.M. The Cougars will play again the following morning at 10:00 A.M. against Ladue-Horton-Watkins and again at 4:15 against Chester. The complete schedule of games for the tournament can be found on the "Varsity Schedule" page.