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WIU Squeaks Past Clearwater 5-4


Clearwater traveled to Babson Park, Florida to play on Webber International University's campus Tuesday night. The Cougars left the bases loaded in the ninth inning, losing 5-4.

The Cougars went into the ninth inning, trailing 5-1. Designated hitter Joel Felten started off the inning by hitting a slow chopper to short just over the pitcher's head and made it safely to first on an infield single. Second baseman Chris Caudillo then hit a line drive between first and second, and third baseman Nate Krouse followed with a single up the middle, which scored Felten. Catcher Eddie Fuentes singled for the second time on the day, loading the bases, and the Cougars behind 5-2. Pinch hitter Jon Rivera then singled home Caudillo, keeping the bases loaded. After a pop out and strikeout, and trailing 5-3, right fielder Jefte Velez singled home Krouse, making the score 5-4. Warriors closer Jesse Wiggington then shut the door inducing a pop up to end the game.

Velez doubled in senior Ethan Barba in the eighth scoring the Cougars first run, after Barba reached base on a walk.

WIU jumped on the board first in the second inning, after scoring an unearned run off Cougars starter Henry Turner. They added two more in the fifth, after a double, a walk, and then a triple, spreading the lead to 3-0.

They put across two more in the seventh, on three hits.

Henry Turner made his first collegiate start as a pitcher, and worked six innings, giving up just two earned runs. He was around the strike zone all day and kept the Warrior hitters off balance.

Some bright spots in the Cougars offense were Velez going 3-5 with two RBI's, Caudillo going 2-4, Krouse adding one RBI and went 3-4, and Fuentes 2-4.

The Cougars will next travel to St. Petersburg on Thursday night to play Eckerd College with the game starting at 7 p.m.