The Cougars scored single runs in their last four at-bats, but it wasn't enough to get over the hump in a 5-4 loss to the Newton Eagles on Thursday afternoon at Lions Field.

 

After falling behind 3-0 after three innings of play, the Cougars finally got on the board in the fourth when Nick Simmons stroked a solo home run to give them some life.

 

But the Eagles went up 5-1 in their next at-bat when they played long ball with a two-run shot over the wall in left.

 

The Cougars got another tallie in the fifth when pinch-runner Devin Hall scored on a one-out double off the bat of Wade Crain.

 

They added another in the sixth to get within two when courtesy-runner Luke Smith scampered home from third on a wild pitch.

 

Then in the seventh, the Cougars threatened to tie things up when they loaded the bases with one out, but after a sacrifice fly by Simmons got the Cougars within one, a towering infield fly caught by the Eagles secondbaseman stranded the tying run at third to end the contest.

 

The Cougars hit the road on Saturday when they travel to Carmi for a 10:00 AM doubleheader with the Bulldogs.

Crain, Wa.....4 0 2  1 

Crain, Wi..... 3 0 0  0 

Simmons.....3 1 1  2 

Bushue.....4 0 0  0 

Schneider.....3 0 1  0 

Michel.....3 0 2  0 

Robb.....3 0 0  0 

Cain.....2 0 0  0 

Smith.....0 1 0  0 

Total.....28 4 7  3