Cougars Swat the Hornets, 10-2

Playing at home on a sunny afternoon with a chill wind blowing, the Oakton Cougars swatted the Herndon Hornets by the score of 10-2.  The win improves the Cougars’ record to 4 wins, 5 losses.

The Cougar defense put up a screen to keep the Hornets out of their house for most of the game, allowing only one earned run and two runs total.  Freshman pitcher Natalie Felix was a significant part of this effort.  Felix started for Oakton in the circle and pitched 6 solid innings, striking out two, allowing four hits and allowing only one earned run.  Lili Vasquez came in as closer in the seventh inning, striking out one batter and getting two more to ground out and end the game. 

For the third time this season, outfielder Lindsey Smith put out an advancing runner when she fielded a Herndon ball hit to right field and rifled an accurate throw to second base for a force out in the sixth inning.  The left side of the infield was busy throughout the game as shortstop Caroline Brogan made five plays to put batters out and third baseman Cassie Brazinsky made six plays to put batters out.

At the plate, the Cougars swatted the Hornets often during the game and produced one of their best offensive games of the season.  Every player got on base one way or the other at least once during the game, as the entire team contributed to the 10 run total.  The hitters included Lindsey Smith (single, 2RBIs); Natalie Felix (3 singles, walk); Rachel Lee (2 singles, RBI); Jo Jo Felix (double, RBI); Caroline Brogan (single, double, walk, 2 RBIs); Nicole Berube (triple, 2 walks, RBI); Cassie Brazinsky (2 singles, double, RBI); and Marissa Sanzone (single).

The next Cougar game is Tuesday, away against Centreville.