SCC Baseball took on MSU West Plains this past weekend in a four-game series. They faced off at Carshield Field for a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday. Both teams battled it out and proved to be strong competitors. In the end, the Cougars and West Plain Grizzlies split the series with two wins each.  

Game One 

In game one, the teams traded the lead early in the first and second innings, each scoring runs. The bottom of the second is where the Cougars took back the lead and secured the win. Carlos Carlo singled down the right field line, Brennan Goering doubled to center field, and Philip Fry Jr. tripled to center field, each scoring one run. 

The remainder of game one was mainly a defensive one, with only West Plains scoring one run in the fourth inning. The Cougars won game one 4-3.  

Goering led St Charles with two hits in four at-bats from the leadoff position. Ethan Chiodini, Carlo, Fry Jr., and Goering each drove in one run for the Cougars. 

Game Two 

Although the Cougars collected 10 hits and 9 runs, it wasn't enough to fend off the Grizzlies in game two on Saturday.  

The St Charles Cougars got on the board in the first inning after Ethan Chiodini hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run. Ayden Katzberg hit a solo home run to left field in the second inning, making the score 2-0. 

The Grizzlies flipped the game on its head in the top of the third, scoring six runs on seven hits to take the lead, 6-2. The Cougars attempted to come back, scoring one run in the bottom of the third and three in the fourth, tying the game up. The teams battled in the remaining innings, but the Grizzlies were able to come up with the win 13-9 to end game two. 

Kurt Leiber, Landon Young, and Katzberg each collected two hits for the St. Charles Cougars, with one a home run for each athlete. 

Game Three 

After a night's rest, the teams were back to face each other for another doubleheader at Carshield on Sunday. Both teams were strong on the bump, but St Charles defeated West Plains in a low-scoring game three, 2-1.  

West Plains scored first in the second inning on a bunt. In the third, Jaiden Glency singled down the right field line, helping the Cougars tie the game at one. The only other run came from the bottom of the sixth, by Nick Alagna. 

Tanner Sullivan pitched the game for the Cougars. He gave up only six hits and one run over seven innings, striking out six and walking two.  

Game Four 

The St Charles Cougars couldn't keep up in the fourth and final game and fell 13-1. 

The Grizzlies got on the board in the top of the first inning with three runs, added one run in the second, and scored six runs in the top of the third inning. The Cougars' run came from a walk earned by Bo Cooper, allowing Philip Fry Jr. to score.  

Kurt Leiber, Nick Alagna, and Philip Fry Jr. each collected one hit for the St Charles Cougars.