Bulldogs Bite the Cougars, 4-2

In their first meeting of this season, the visiting Westfield Bulldogs bit the Oakton Cougars, 4-2.  The loss drops the Cougars’ overall record to 5 wins, 9 losses and their conference record to 2 wins, 4 losses .

Westfield scored one run to open the game, founded on two singles and aided by a Cougar error.  In the bottom of the first inning, the Cougars looked like they were going to at least even the score when they loaded the bases after two singles (Caroline Brogan and Jo Jo Felix) and a Westfield error.  But unfortunately, the Cougars were all left stranded on the bases like cats up a tree.

The Bulldog defense bit down hard on the Cougars during innings two through five, literally keeping the Cougars off of the bases during that stretch, while the Westfield offense put up two runs, including one unearned due to Cougar passed balls and wild pitches. 

The Cougars trailed 3 – 0 after five ½ innings, but they finally unsheathed their offensive claws in the bottom of the sixth inning and started a comeback.  Third baseman Cassie Brazinsky led off and reached first on a Bulldog error.  Center fielder Linda Lyons got on with a bunt single, and Brazinsky and Lyons advanced to third and second bases, respectively, when Westfield’s shortstop overthrew first trying to get Lyons with a late throw.  Left fielder Nicole Berube drove in Brazinsky with an infield grounder, and Brogan did the same for Lyons.  The Cougars had closed the gap to 3 – 2 after six innings.

Westfield opened the gap with a run in the top of the seventh inning, and the Cougars failed to sustain their comeback in their last at-bat, making the final score 4 – 2.

Natalie Felix started in the circle for the Cougars, allowing three hits and one earned run over four innings.  Lili Vasquez came in as reliever for the last three innings, also allowing three hits and one earned run.