March 7, 2017- When talking about the 2017 season Head Coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher said that she wanted to see the best competition possible on the spring trip to get ready for the conference season. Their test today would be two strong opponents in Ohio Northern and Muhlenberg. In game one against Ohio Northern, it would be the four runs in the first inning that would be too much for CUC to overcome. In game two though, the bats came alive for 13 hits, but the Cougars would have to fight into extras to secure the 8-7 nine inning win.
 
In game one, it would be a big first inning for the Polar Bears that would be the difference. Ohio Northern ripped off three hits, while CUC made two errors in the inning, allowing four runs to cross. Cougar Starter Julianne Nation settled in from there, scattering six hits over the next six innings of work. The Cougars managed only six hits in the game led by Michele Alexander with two. Allison Kruk provides some fireworks for CUC in the fifth, trying to get CUC to rally. Kruk hammered a 2-1 pitch to right center, a no doubt blast to pull CUC within two. The Cougars brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth, but were unable to complete the comeback.
 
In game two, the bats came alive. The Cougars pounded out 13 hits in the game, and they needed every one of them to secure the extra inning victory. CUC struck first in the top half of the second inning. Alexander drew a leadoff walk to start the inning. She would move up 60 feet on a sac bunt by Kristen Landon. With two outs, Taylor Kulaszewicz drove a 0-1 pitch deep to center for a double, scoring Alexander easily for the 1-0 CUC lead.
 
After Muhlenberg tied it in the fourth, CUC went back to work in the fifth. Melissa Balkema drew a one out full count walk, and quickly stole second. The throw down sailed into center field, allowing Balkema to race towards third. The throw from centerfield then ended up in the Mules dugout bringing her around to score.
 
Muhlenberg tied it again in the bottom of the fifth in the closely contested game, but CUC answered for a second time with a big sixth. With one out, Megan Strong drew a walk and stole second. Stefanie D'Anna drew a walk as well. D'Anna then stole second. During the play, Muhlenberg decided to throw down to second, which allowed Strong to score. With D'Anna on second, Kruk blasted 2-2 pitch to left center, scoring D'Anna. A few pitches later with Kruk on third Balkema laid down a perfect safety squeeze allowing Kruk to score, Blalkema beat out the throw on the play, keeping a runner on base. Marita Van Dyke finished off the offensive attack with a scorching double to right center, scoring Balkema from second, making it 6-2 CUC.
 
The Mules fought back in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, taking advantage of a tight strike zone, drawing multiple walks. The game then headed into extra innings, where the international rule of putting a runner on second base to start the inning was in effect.
 
The Cougars were able to plate the placed runner in the top of the eighth on a sac fly by Kruk. Muhlenberg though, was able to plate the tying run despite a double play in the inning. The Cougars plated the eventual winning run in the ninth when Kulaszewicz lifted a ball into center field deep enough to score Elizabeth Foxley who started on second, and had moved over on an error. Van Dyke dialed it up in the bottom of the ninth, getting a groundout and a big swing and miss to end the game with the tying run on third.
 
Courtney Pepper worked the first five innings for CUC, where she continued to pitch well, giving up just two earned runs while striking out three. Van Dyke picked up her third win of the trip as well. Van Dyke chipped in her best offensive output with three hits in the game. In total eight of the Cougars starters had a hit in the game.
 
The Cougars (3-3) will enjoy an off day in Florida on Wednesday before taking back to the field on Thursday afternoon. Opening pitch is set for 3:30 (EST) from Clermont.