By BRYAN GRISHAM

CSCC Sports Information Director

   The Cleveland State Cougars took both ends of a doubleheader to complete a big three game conference sweep of the Motlow State Bucks on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field. After taking game one on Friday by a score of 10-9, the Cougars took both ends of a Saturday twinbill by a score of 7-3 in game one and game two by a final of 11-7.

   "This team never gives up and we had to come from behind in both games today (Saturday)," explained Cougar coach Mike Policastro. "We just keep coming at them and never quit and that's really been the theme all year long. They just find a way to win. It's been a different guy all the time just like today. It's a long season and it takes a total team effort to be successful. And that was it today, we have a couple of guys hurt and other guys step in and get the job done. We keep telling everybody that they will get their chance, just be ready and for the most part, they have."

   In the first game on Saturday the 20th ranked Cougars took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer from Jay Huffman in the bottom of the second inning.

   Motlow jumped on top with a three spot in the third as Frankie Beech delivered the big blow with a two-run double to put the Bucks on top 3-1.

   The Cougars tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the third on an RBI double by Adam Hindman and a wild pitch in the fifth.

   The Cleveland State hitting machine cranked up in a big way in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cody Ferrell led off the inning with a solo home run to put the Cougars on top. Hindman then singled and scored ahead of Drew Banks who rattled the trees beyond the left field fence for a two-run blast. Troy Zawadzki capped the inning with an RBI single to push the Cougar lead to 7-3.

   Ben Booker tossed six strong innings allowing only four hits and three runs to get the win while Chirs Anselmo came on to pitch a scoreless seventh frame to nail down the win. Andy Southard took the loss for the Bucks. Beech had two of the five Bucks hits while Hindman and Anselmo had two hits apiece for the Cougars.

   In the second game of the day on Saturday, Motlow jumped out to a 5-2 lead as they scored at least one run in each of the first, four innings. Kirk Wheeler knocked in a run in the first, Derek Brown had an RBI single in the second and Wayne Huell plated a run in the third while the fifth run crossed on a balk.

   The Cougars put a single run on the board in the first and another in the fourth as Drew Banks led off the inning with a solo homer.

   Cleveland State mounted a rally with five in the fifth to take the lead. After one out, a sharp ground ball to first base became lodged in the first baseman's glove to turn an out into a base hit for Andrew Root to ignite the rally. Cory Hilton followed with a solid single while Cody Ferrell doubled in a run. Adam Hindman added and RBI single, the go ahead run soon crossed on a wild pitch and Justin Ridenour capped the five run rally with an RBI single to give the Cougars a 7-5 lead.

   The Bucks came right back an inning later as Derek Brown hit a two-run shot to right field to tie the game once again at 7-7.

   The Cougars would not be denied though, as they came back in the bottom of the sixth to recapture the lead, this time for good. Root and Hilton started the rally as both took one for the team to reach base. Cody Ferrell laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to set the stage for Hindman who singled in a run while another run crossed on a wild pitch. John Cervantes who had entered the game earlier as a pinch runner made the most of his only at-bat of the game with a ringing two-run double to cap off the four-run sixth and give the Cougars an 11-7 lead.

   Chad Fromm came on in the sixth to put out the fire and then tossed a scoreless seventh to secure the win and the big conference sweep. Fromm (3-0) picked up the win, allowing no hits in his two innings of work while Trey Isbell took the loss for the Bucks. Chase Johnson led the Bucks with three hits while Beech and Ryan Cole added two hits each. Root, Ferrell, Hindman, Banks and Lance Rorex all checked in with two hits each to lead the Cougar 14 hit attack.

   In game one of the series on Friday afternoon, the Cougars jumped out to a big lead and then had to hold on for dear life to get the win.

   The Cougars put seven runs on the board over the first, three innings. Cory Hilton doubled in a run in the first while Anderw Root singled in another in the second. In the third, the Cougars took advantage of Buck miscues as they scored three times without the benefit of a hit. Matt Brewer plated a run with a fielder's choice while two more crossed on an error and a groundout for a 7-1 lead.

   Root crushed a solo homer for the Cougars in the bottom of the fifth while Zac Mitchell did the same for the Bucks in he top of the seventh to push the score to 8-3.

   Cleveland State tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh as Root plated a run with a groundout and Hilton added an RBI with a single to give the Cougars a 10-3 advantage.

   The Bucks mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth as they scored six times on six hits and an error causing a few anxious moments in the Cleveland State dugout. Cody Midgett doubled in a run, Frankie Beech added an RBI single while Ryan Cole knocked in two more and Wayne Huell singled in one more to cut the lead to 10-9. Matt Beard started the inning in relief of Jay Bolen on the hill while Zane leffew and Chad Fromm all came in to try to put out the fire. Fromm finally recorded the last out to pick up the save and get Bolen the win. Joey Ivy took the loss for Motlow.

   "It's always good to get three big conference wins," said Policastro. "We jumped out early on Friday and then gave up six in the ninth, but we held on for the win. Chad did a good job of shutting them down on Friday and then comes back today (Saturday) and gets the win in game two. Really he's done a good job all year."

   Cleveland State (29-9, 14-4) will host Wallace State on Tuesday at 2:00 and travel to Young Harris on Wednesday for a 4:00 p.m. game.