AUBURNDALE, FLA. -  The Cougars kicked off their stint in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Saturday, March 2^nd, with a massive 14-1 win over the Houghton University Highlanders. The Cougars dominated the game with 12 total hits and closed things out in merely seven innings.
INSIDE THE BOX

• Tyler Krater (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) each smashed a homerun on the day while picking up four and three RBI's, respectively.
• Julio Cajigas (Romeoville, Ill.) led the offense with three hits on four at bats.
• Five pitchers worked for the Cougars with David Deimling (Bloomingdale, Ill.) closing the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
• Dylan Ferraro (Windsor, Colo.) made his debut in the maroon and gold with one inning pitched while allowing no runs and no hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars started out hot with a leadoff double for Cajigas to kick things off in the top of the first. Despite the lead off, three quick outs would force the Cougars to play defense. Dylan Scott (Bartlett, Ill.) took to the mound and let the Highlanders get on base quickly. With one out and runners on first and second, a double play from Alejandro Muñoz (Evergreen Park, Ill.) to Yashion Boswell (Lynwood, Ill.) to Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.) would end the inning with no harm.
• In the top of the second, a drop third strike paired with an error would put Mahler at second with Elijah Hickman (Rensselaer, Ind.) at the plate. A sacrifice fly to centerfield would score Mahler and put the Cougars on the board first.
• Another quick inning for Cougar defense would put the Cougars back behind the bats where back-to-back walks for Cajigas and Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.) would put two runners on base for a Krater homerun over the left field fence, giving the Cougars the 4-1 lead.
• Still looking to swing the bats, the Cougars jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the fourth after a single from Muñoz paired with a double from Boswell would give the Cougars the 5-0 lead. With runners on first and third, a Cajigas single to left would score another and a sacrifice fly from Krater would score again.
• With a fresh arm on the mound for the Cougars, two strikeouts for Bryce Jones (Ottawa, Ill.) would keep the Cougars ahead.
• In the top of the fifth, a leadoff homer from Mahler would put the Cougars up by eight and force a pitching change for the Highlanders. Additional hits from James Kloppke Jr. (Norridge, Ill.) and Cajigas would make it an 11-run advantage for the Cougars.
• With Ferraro making his collegiate debut he found himself playing tight defense with an out on a bunt and a line drive to collect two of the three outs himself.
• The top of the sixth told a familiar tale for the Cougars with yet another handful of hits to lead things off. A single from Mahler to lead things off would put him in position to score off a hit through the left side from Munoz to put the Cougars up 12-1.
• With arm number four making its way to the mound for the Cougars, Anthony Pullano (Park Ridge, Ill.) would pick up three strikeouts while allowing one hit for the Highlanders.
• In the top of the seventh, a double from Caleb Anderson (Plainfield, Ill.) would put runners on the corner bags for Mahler to pick up a single through the left side to score an additional two runs.
• With the 14-1 lead in the hands of Deimling, three quick strikeouts with a total of 10 pitches thrown would close the game with the Cougar victory.

The Cougars face a quick turnaround as they take on Penn State Abington tomorrow, March 3^rd, with a first pitch of 4:30 PM (EST). Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.