Softball splits with Bryant & Stratton

A walk-off left Cleveland on the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat to Bryant & Stratton in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30. The game was tied at two in the bottom of the eighth when Tanisha Halvorson doubled, scoring two runs. Cleveland lost despite out-hitting Bryant & Stratton six to five. Kaylen Cales and Jaylen Ledbetter each collected two hits for the Yetis.

Cleveland got on the board in the top of the fifth inning after Ledbetter singled, and Bryant & Stratton committed an error, each scoring one run. Kallie McNeely doubled, which helped Bryant & Stratton tie the game at two in the bottom of the seventh.

Chloe Gust earned the win for Bryant & Stratton. The right-handed pitcher surrendered six hits and two runs (zero earned) over eight innings, striking out four and walking three. Christian Beaver took the loss for Cleveland. The starting pitcher went seven and one-third innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out 11 and walking three.

Ledbetter went 2-for-3 at the plate as the outfielder led the team with one run batted in. Halvorson provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led the Bobcats with two runs batted in.

However, the Lady Yetis turned it around in game two, securing a 6-4 victory over the Bobcats, who are currently ranked 14th in the nation. Riley Parker, Andrea Melton, and Sayge Strange combined for six of the team's 11 hits in the victory. They scored three runs and drove in two.

Bryant & Stratton opened the scoring in the bottom of the first thanks to two home runs. The Bobcats first got on the board when Chloe Gust homered to center field, scoring two runs. 

Cleveland jumped into the lead in the top of the fourth when Strange singled, scoring one run, and Kaylen Cales tripled, scoring two runs. Christian Beaver hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the fifth for the Yetis. Melton hit a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth for Cleveland.

Strange earned the win for the Yetis. The starting pitcher allowed five hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings, striking out four and walking three. Abigail Epperson took the loss for Bryant & Stratton Bobcats. The righty went four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out one and walking one.

Cleveland collected 11 hits in the game. Strange, Cleveland's number seven hitter, led the team with three hits in three at-bats. Cales went 1-for-3 at the plate as the infielder led the team with two runs batted in. Parker and Hayle Eubanks each collected multiple hits for Cleveland CC Yetis. Eubanks stole three bases.