LATROBE, PA - It was a long day for the Chatham Cougar Softball team (12-22, 6-10 PAC) as they headed out East to take on the Saint Vincent Bearcats (16-14, 8-8 PAC). In game one the Cougars would emerge victorious 8-5, before falling 3-2 to the Bearcats after 11 innings.
Sophomore Hannah Uhrinek would take a stand for the Cougars in the first innings of game one as she hit not only her first home run of the season, but also the first team grand slam of the season! Uhrinek earned four RBIs off the grand slam rounding the plate herself while also bringing in seniors Victoria Murren and Kayleen Garcia and freshman Madi Gorney. The Bearcats would answer with three runs over the next two innings before the Cougars returned with four more runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Gaby McTavish would single bringing home fellow freshman Allison Livelsberger, senior Chelsea Stabile would double to center field bringing home McTavish and freshman Tori Cavanaugh, and then Gorney would double to left center bringing home Stabile. The Bearcats would add two more runs to their total, but it wouldn't be enough to catch the Cougars.
On the mound for the Cougars in game one would be Murren and sophomore Josie Underdonk. Murren would pitch for 2.2 innings allowing seven hits and three runs, but struck out two batters. Underdonk would take over for the remaining 4.1 innings in which she allowed six hits and two runs, but striking out one batter.
Game two would prove to be long for the Cougars as it was tied at the end of seven innings sending them into extra innings. It would be an additional four innings before the Bearcats would emerge victorious. The Cougars would go down early in the first inning as the Bearcats were able to put a run up against them. They would answer with two runs in the fourth inning when Uhrinek doubled to center field bringing home freshman Michelle Harper, and then senior Cloe Lopez doubled to left center bringing home Uhrinek. The bats would die down for the Cougars after the fourth.
On the mound for the Cougars this game would be Uhrinek with a stellar and record breaking performance despite the loss. She set a new innings pitched record, breaking the previous record held by Julie Swedberg since 2018 (10). Uhrinek would pitch for a total of 10.1 innings allowing 11 hits and only three runs. She would strike out 13 batters which tied the current record for single game strikeouts held by Murren.
The Cougars are back in action this Saturday, April 18th, when they return to historic West Field to take on the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes with first pitches set for 10AM and 12PM.
