MELBOURNE, Fla. --- On day four of the USSSA Space Coast Games, the Bethel Pilots (4-7) shut out the Cleary Cougars (3-11) by a score of 3-0. However, they fought the Cornerstone Golden Eagles (7-7) tooth and nail in a nine-inning bout but lost 4-3.
VS CLEARY
Ryann Norris (3-3) threw her first career complete-game shutout against the Cougars with one strikeout and allowed seven hits. Meghan Younger had a great day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three singles and scoring twice for the Pilots.
Kate Cooper drove in two runs, starting at the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Younger from third and singled in the bottom of the sixth to center to drive in Younger again.
With the Pilots in the lead 2-0, Emily Kidwell drove one to left field for an RBI single that scored Mackenzie Navarrete, sealing the Pilots' 3-0 win over the Cougars.
VS CORNERSTONE
Meghan Younger scored the game's first run on a wild pitch from third base after she laced a one-out single to center field. Later, at the bottom of the third, Kate Cooper, who had already driven in two runs earlier today, drove in Younger with an RBI single to the center.
Cornerstone struck back in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to center, then took the lead after a single through the left side and a single to center field to take the lead 3-2.
Cooper tied the game 3-3 with a single through the left side and forced extra innings. After a blank eighth inning, with a runner on second per extra inning rules, Cornerstone displayed great use of the small ball with a sacrifice bunt to the third base line, then a squeeze scored what would be the winning run 4-3.
Harmony Looney started the game in the circle and threw five innings, allowing 10 hits, three runs, two walks, and three punchouts. Ryann Norris (3-4) was credited with the loss after throwing a great four innings to force extra innings and struck out four batters. She battled, but the winning run scored and would be the only run she allowed.
THE FINAL DAY OF THE USSSA SPACE COAST GAMES
Bethel faces Concordia (Mich.) at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 9, and takes on Aquinas (Mich.) for the final game of the Pilots Florida trip.
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