The Cougars were shocked as Lincolnview loaded the bases in their first at-bat. Fortunately for the VW-faithful, and much to the dismay of Lincolnview fans, the Lancers were unable to push a run across the plate. From that point, the VW diamond men settled down defensively, while their offensive bats came alive. The Cougars tallied 10 runs in the next five at-bats to run-rule Lincolnview for their first “W” of the season. Van Wert jumped on Lancer starter Josh Hoehn almost immediately. Senior standout Alan Leatherman scored the Cougars first run without a hit in the home-half of the first inning. Leatherman led off the inning with a walk, stole second and moved to third when two more batters walked. He then scored on a wild pitch in the dirt to give VW a 1-0 advantage. Van Wert added a pair of runs in the second stanza, as the Cougars loaded the bases. Leatherman collected one RBI when he was hit by a pitch, and then Karlin Dunlap walked to drive in another VW run. That inning chased Hoehn from the mound, as Lincolnview Coach Roger Salisbury brought in reliever Mike Evans. With the Cougars now up 3-0, Malachi Murphy greeted the new Lancer pitcher with a run-scoring fielder’s choice, and then Cougar designated hitter, Alix Lucena (a Venezuelan exchange student), smashed a two-RBI double to centerfield. When the dust finally settled for Lincolnview in the inning, the Lancers found themselves on the short end of a 6-0 VW advantage. Van Wert then added two more runs in the third inning when Dunlap (2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and four RBI’s), ripped a two-out, two-RBI double to left center. The Cougars, now leading 8-0, sealed the deal in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a lead-off single by Steve Sanderson and a walk to Thaison Leaser. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third and a Leatherman single plated Sanderson. A Dunlap double in the next at bat scored Leaser, giving the Cougars a 10-0 lead and ending the contest. Overall for the Cougars, Karlin Dunlap doubled twice and had 4 RBI's, while teammates Steve Sanderson went 2-2 with 3 runs scored and Alix Lucena added a double. Austin Anderson collected the mound victory for the Cougars, tossing a 3-hit shutout.

Lincolnview 000 00 - 0 3 0

Van Wert 152 02 - 10 7 2

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