March 15, 2011 - The Concordia Cougars traveled to Wheaton College this afternoon to play their first two games since returning from last week's trip to Southern California. The Cougars had some positive moments but also some moments of inconsistent play as the Thunder took both games by 2-0 and 10-3 scores.

In game one, Concordia received another well-pitched game from sophomore Sami DeFord (South Bend, IN/Marian). DeFord limited the hosts to six hits, all but one of them singles, and struck out five. However, Wheaton scratched across a run in the third on a sacrifice fly. An error in the fourth inning allowed the Thunder to score an unearned tally for insurance.

The Cougars were held in check by Thunder pitcher Danielle Schmidt who allowed just four hits. Concordia's best chance to score came in the third when Caitlin Richards (Chicago, IL/Mother McAuley) led off with a double. She advanced to third on a ground ball to the right side but was stranded as Schmidt retired the next two batters.

In game two, the Cougars got on the board quickly. Olivia Hires (Denver, CO/Bear Creek) opened the game with a walk, stole second and scored on Taylor Golden's (Chicago, IL/Trinity) double to the rightfield corner.

The Thunder came back as they took advantage of two Cougar errors to score three times in the bottom of the first. They added two runs in the second and three in the third, chasing Concordia starter Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) from the game. Kelly was touched for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings, although three of the runs were unearned.

Both teams tallied a run in the fourth, Concordia's coming on Cassie Slechta's (Berwyn, IL/Walther Lutheran) leadoff single and Richards' two-out double. The Cougars scored their final run in the fifth on Golden's single, DeFord's sacrifice and Clariss Gieseke's (Roselle, IL/Lake Park) single up the middle.

Concordia (2-7) will take some time off before resuming play on March 24 with their home opener against North Park University.