7/16, Cougars 0, South Bend 11

Not having scored a run in almost 19 innings, and being shutout for the second straight game, the Cougars lost to the South Bend Silverhawks in the first game of their road trip 11-0. The Cougars had three hits in the game and struck out nine times.

The Silverhawks Taylor Sinclair pitched a good game, he went seven innings, giving up three hits and a walk, while striking out five. The Hawks bullpen also pitched well, in two innings they struck out four Cougars.

The three hits for the Cougars started when David Thomas led off the game with a single to left center, then was picked off first. Steve Parker had a one out single to short in the sixth. Leonardo Gil had a two out single to short in the sevenh. The only other time the Cougars had a base runner was when Jeremy Barfield walked to lead off the second. In the second and the sixth the runners were immediatly erased by double plays.

Now the nightmare begins, South Bend scored in every inning tonight and never scored more than two runs in an inning. In the first, with one out, Victor Esteves singled to second. A.J. Parker then tripled to right center to score Esteves. One out later, Rossmel Perez was hit by a pitch, but would be stranded at first.

Shawn Haviland started for the Cougars and really did not have much of anything. He went four innings, giving up nine hits and six runs. He walked two and struck out three, he also threw and wild pitch and hit a batter.

In the second, Ramon Ramirez led off with a double to right center. Two outs later, Reynaldo Navarro singled to right to score Ramirez. The third inning saw South Bend score again. With one out, Marc Krauss singled to left. He would then be caught trying to steal second. Perez blooped one to center. Nelson Gomez then doubled to the wall in right to drive home Perez.

Two runs for the Hawks in the fourth inning. Alberto Diaz led off with a walk. One out later, Reynaldo Navarro singled to right. He would then steal second. Estevez followed with a double down the left field line to score both Diaz and Navarro. That would be it for Haviland after four innings.

Brett Hunter then came in and didn't fare much better, he would get two outs in the game. He would walk the bases load. Isaias Asencio then reached on a fielder's choice, on the play the Cougars got the out at second and allowed a run to score. One out later, Hunter would walk another Hawks to reload the bases. Josue Selenis came in and got a force out to end the inning.

Marc Krauss blooped a double down the left field line to lead off the sixth inning. Two outs later, Ramirez singled to right to score Krauss. Two runs for the Hawks in the seventh inning. Navarro hit a one out single to left. One out later, A.J. Pollock would hit his first pro homer.

Daniel Thomas came in to pitch the eigth, he would give up a run. Perez led off with a single to second. Gomez then singled to right. One out later Alberto Diaz grounded out to first, Perez would score.

The most fireworks the Cougars would get would come in the seventh inning. Jason Christian would be tossed from the game by the home plate ump after being struck out.

Tomorrow at South Bend @Noon
Kenny Smalley (7-3, 2.32) vs Brett Moorhouse (4-9, 3.58)