It ended on a strike him out throw him out double play.

Cleveland State (8-4) defeated Lincoln Trail College (1-8-1) 5-3 this afternoon.

Each team's starting pitcher kept the hitters in check for six innings. For the Cougars Cooper Casteel allowed no runs on two hits while striking out eight and walking one in his six innings of work. The Statesman starter Hayden Trier allowed one earned run on four hits while striking out seven and walking two.

Errors plagued Lincoln Trail totaling four on the day. Only two of the five runs Cleveland State scored were earned.

The Cougars came across the plate first when right fielder Nate Dunfee doubled driving in catcher Cannon Stafford in the bottom of the fourth inning. Then in the fifth leftfielder Bryson Trammell doubled brining home centerfielder Kain Collins.

In the top half of the seventh the Statesman took advantage of Cleveland State ending Casteel's day drawing three walks from reliever Zane Brown and turning those into their only three runs of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning the Cougars retook the lead scoring two runs after loading the bases after
an error by the shortstop plated two runs. Cleveland State added another run in the bottom of the eighth when third baseman Will Webb grounded out to third base bringing home shortstop De'Yon Cannon.

Ben Norton (1-0) picked up the win allowing no runs on one hit in his inning of work. Brycen Denton pitched the eighth inning allowing no runs. And Logan Bryson earned his second save of the season pitching the ninth allowing no runs on one hit while striking out two.

Games two and three of the series will both be played tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for noon.