Cougars Stung by the Hornets, 4-11

Playing on a sunny afternoon, the Herndon Hornets avenged their loss earlier in the season by beating the visiting Oakton Cougars, 4-11.  The loss drops the Cougars’ overall record to 5 wins, 8 losses and to 2 wins, 3 losses in the conference.

After retiring the Cougars one, two, three in the top of the first inning, the Hornets flew out of their nest with three runs after a 2-RBI home run, two doubles and a walk in the bottom of the inning.  The Cougars bit back in the top of the second inning when left fielder Rachel Lee hit a single into the third base-shortstop gap, moved to second base when center fielder Linda Lyons walked, gained third base on a passed ball, and scored when catcher Kelly Dunlap drove her in with grounder to second.

After holding Herndon runless in the bottom of the second inning, the Cougars failed to score in the third inning, although second baseman Georgia Brandt hit a double to left field.  The Hornets, in contrast, continued to buzz along at the plate, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning on two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly.

Trailing 1-5, the Cougar offense finally started swatting at the Hornets in the fourth inning.  Lee was the initial spark again when she reached first base after being hit by a pitch.  Lyons moved her to second base with a sac bunt, and also reached first base after an errant Hornet throw.  Dunlap then walked to load the bases, and all of the runners advanced a base on a wild pitch, including Lee who scored from third base.  After a Cougar strike out, relief pitcher Jo Jo Felix walked to load the bases again.  Third baseman Cassie Brazinsky came up next, and she crushed a double off of the center field fence, which missed going over for a grand slam by about 3 feet, and which plated Lyons and Dunlap.  Unfortunately, the next two Cougars were put out, leaving Felix and Brazinsky stranded on base with the score Oakton 4, Herndon 5.

After hold the Hornets scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars failed to score in the fifth or sixth innings, despite singles by Lyons and Felix.  The Hornets, in contrast, continued to buzz across the plate.  After scoring one in the bottom of the fifth, the Hornets stung the Cougars hard in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on five hits, including two doubles.  With the Cougars scoreless in the top of the seventh, the game ended with a final score of Oakton 4, Herndon 11.