Comeback falls short in Cougars’ conference opener
Locked in a pitcher’s dual, losing pitcher Brandon Mercer (2-1) kept the Saints batters off-balance all afternoon, giving up the Saints’ lone two hits and two walks in the costly home half of the fourth inning.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Locked in a pitcher's dual, losing pitcher Brandon Mercer (2-1) kept the Saints batters off-balance all afternoon, giving up the Saints' lone two hits and two walks in the costly home half of the fourth inning.
A leadoff single by Brandon Uriquizo set the table for the Saints but Mercer countered with his second strikeout of the game. Following a Brent Williams walk, Kevin Connolly broke through for the Saints with an RBI single to center giving the Saints the 1-0 lead. Connor Smith then added to the lead with a sac fly to deep center to score Williams.
The Cougars made it interesting in the top of the ninth with a two out rally. Jace Bowman singled to left field to begin the rally then one batter later, Grant Watkins doubled to left driving home Bowman and cutting the deficit in half. Caleb Cherryholmes, who came in to pinch run for Watkins, advanced to third on a Saints fielding error from Evan McDonald giving Barton the tying run just 90' away. J.B. Olsen, who went all seven innings for the Saints, shut the door on the Cougar comeback getting Kyle Cromwell swinging for the third out to improve his record to 2-1 on the season.