By BRYAN GRISHAM

CSCC Sports Information Director

The Cleveland State baseball team avenged and early season loss to Gordon College  on Tuesday afternoon at Cougar Field by handing the Highlanders an 8-4 loss. It wasn't easy as the Cougars had to come from behind on three different ocassions, but as they have all season long the never-say-die Cougars did just that to win going away.

Luke Walls put the Highlanders on top in the first inning with an RBI double for a 1-0 lead.

Andrew Root then tied the game for the home team in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run.

Lance Pope put Gordon back on top with a solo round-tripper in the fifth, but John Cervantes answered for the Cougars in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot of his own to tie the game at 2-2.

Gordon went right back on top in the seventh as Walls doubled in another run and Eric Esqulin homered for a 4-2 lead.

The Cougars seesawed back to the front in the bottom of the seventh as Root drove in a run with a single, Cory Hilton pushed one across with a grounder to second base and the go-ahead run scooted home on a wild pitch as Cleveland State took a 5-4 lead.

The Cougars put the game out of reach an inning later with three big insurance runs as a two out Gordon miscue led to three unearned runs. Troy Zawadaki doubled in a pair of runs as the Cougars took an 8-4 lead. Chris Anselmo walked the first two hitters he faced in the ninth, but then had a little help from his friends ended the Gordon rally as the Cougars turned a nice doubleplay to secure the win.

Cody Ferrell started the game on the hill for the Cougars going five strong innings while Stephen Pryor, Chad Fromm, Phil Mariani and Anselmo finished the game in relief. Fromm (6-0) recorded the win while Tyler Brown suffered the loss for Gordon.

Zawadzki paced the Cougars with three hits while Root, Adam Hindman and Justin Ridenour added two hits each. Jim Moreland led the Highlanders with three hits while Walls, Esqulin and Blake Parrott all had two hits. Each team had 11 hits in the contest.

The Cougars will travel to Chattanooga State this weekend for the final regular season conference series.