The Golden Eagles baseball team was stymied by the buzz saw that is UC Clermont in a 20-0 seven-inning game at Tuscora Park on Saturday afternoon. The USCAA No. 2 ranked Cougars banged out 17 hits and restricted KSU Tusc to just four safeties and eight baserunners on the day.
Clermont wasted no time in scoring and tallied three runs in the top of the first inning on the strength of a double, single and a navy and gold error to take an early 3-0 lead. After the Eagles went quietly in their first two at bats, the Cougars added five runs in top of the third frame by hammering out four singles and a homerun to stretch their advantage to 8-0.
Steve Michniak collected KSU Tusc's first hit of the game on a single past the second baseman into rightfield with one out on a 3-2 count, but was out advancing to second on a fielder's choice to retire the side following a strikeout.
A pair of singles and a double brought home two more Cougar runs in the fourth for a 10-0 lead. The struggle to find offense continued for the Eagles as Caleb Salgado was left stranded on base after a fourth inning single, as were Andrew Powell and Scottie Sauernheimer after hitting doubles in the home half of the fifth and sixth innings. Salgado threw out two Cougars trying to swipe second base from his catchers position in the first two innings of the game.
Meanwhile, the visitors had a three-run sixth and capitalized on two homeruns in the seventh inning to score seven more times and take a 20-0 lead.
Overall, nine Golden Eagles were strikeout victims, while sharp-hitting UC Clermont made to most of three long balls and two doubles.
Now 4-9 on the year, KSU Tusc will host the Cougars (17-8) in a doubleheader at Conotton Valley High School on Saturday with the first pitch at 12 pm.
Josh Leonard tags out a UCC runner caught stealing at second---catcher Caleb Salgado cut down two Cougars in each of the first two innings.
Andrew Powell had an extra base hit against Clermont and makes a play on a UCC runner off first.
Spencer Kornspan reacts to getting hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning.
(Photos by Lindsey Nicholson)