Written by Claire Urchell

MARCH 9, 2020 – After a couple of losses on Sunday, March 8, 2020 and an off-day coming up on Tuesday, the Cougars were ready to battle two new teams for their first win of the season. The first team the Cougars were facing on the beautiful day in Clermont, Florida was the Bears from Ursinus College.

Freshman Hailey Howard was given the start and came out strong with only allowing one run. The Cougars got a runner on first with two outs, but could not cross the plate. In the top of the second, the Bears added to their lead, while the Cougars’ bats continued to struggle. The game ended with a victory for Ursinus College with a score of 10-0 but with another game ahead, the team shook off the loss and focused on the game against the Monmouth College Fighting Scots.

In the top of the first, the Cougars got their bats going, but could not get the runs across. In the bottom half of the first, sophomore Holly Bathje started in the circle for the Cougars and only gave up one run. In the top of the second, a few solid hits came from the middle of the lineup for the Cougars and the first run of the day crossed the plate and tied the game against the Scots. The game was tied at one until the fourth inning when the Cougars’ bats broke out and scored two big runs to get the lead for the first time since being in Florida.

With a big inning in the top of the fourth, the Cougars had the momentum and knew that they could get their first win of the season if they continued to hold off the Fighting Scots. Bathje continued to throw a solid game in the circle only allowing one more run to cross the plate for Monmouth College in the bottom of the fifth allowing the Cougars to end their losing streak and get their first win of the season 4-2.