After a miserable ten game losing streak on the road, Ferrell Field was a welcome sight for the Cougars Baseball club. The baseball club opened their first homestand of the season with a sweep against Robert Morris University.
After their first 19 games of the season, which took place on neutral sites or on the road, the Cougars needed a spark to get back to their winning ways. Playing some much needed home games was exactly the spark they needed to pick up some victories.
Tyler Hebel took the mound for the Cougars and delivered a quality start pitching 5.1 innings allowing seven hits, three runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. Closer Erik Eggert would come in from the pen and pick up his sixth save of the young season.
Robert Morris would strike early to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a RBI single for DH Matt Cole, but the Cougars weren’t rattled by the early deficit. The bottom of the third inning paved the way for a Cougars victory.
The Cougars began the inning with the first two batters getting out. The rally didn’t start until Garrett Bright got hit by a pitch, followed by a single by Matt Monahan. With two on and two out, first baseman Ben Zordani singled to centerfield to score Bright and tie the ballgame up.
After a walk to DH Jack Gainer, a wild pitch would help Monahan cross the plate for a 2-1 lead. Right Fielder Cameron Powell would join in on the rally by singling to left field, adding two more runs. The Cougars rally gave them a 4-1 after the inning was over.
Robert Morris would try to fight back in the fifth. Plating across one run already in the inning to cut the deficit to two, but Cougars catcher Agustin Guerrero would throw out a Robert Morris player trying to steal second base to close out the inning.
Robert Morris right fielder David Dugger lead off the top of the 6th inning with a solo homer to make it a 4-3 ballgame, but the Cougars would add some insurance. After a leadoff double in the bottom half of the inning by Powell, the Cougars would use small ball to their advantage. After a sacrifice bunt, Powell would score after another wild pitch.
The 5-3 lead would all the Cougars would need. The losing streak was finally over.
After picking up a victory in the home opener, the Cougars would get a brilliant pitcher performance from sophomore starter Jared Jones. Jones would pitch a complete game with only surrounding five hits, one runs, no walks, and five strikeouts.
The bats would strike early in the first with Bright leading off the game with a base hit and scoring from a RBI single from Gainer to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead in the first.
The Second inning would also see the Cougars keep adding on to the lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Monahan would single to add on another run to the Cougars lead.
Robert Morris’ only successful inning against Jones would come in the third. A couple singles to begin the inning, alongside a sacrifice bunt, saw the Robert Morris plate their only run of the game.
The game would become a pitchers duel until the 7th inning. Powell would continue to have a strong homestand as his single would give the Cougars some more insurance, giving them a 3-1 lead.
The runs wouldn’t stop there. Infielder Griffin Bright would drive in two more runs for the Cougars in the bottom of the 8th inning. Jones would still be on the mound going into the bottom of the 9th with a 5-1 lead.
Jones would finish with complete game strong. The first two batters he faced in the 9th grounded out, then Jones ended the game with a strikeout. Jones would end the game pitching an absolute gem.
After struggling to find any momentum in the first 19 games of the season, the Cougars looked more comfortable on their own home field. The Cougars would be happy to know that nine of their next 14 games will be played at home on Ferrell Field.
Dominic Pellegrini
Sports Reporter