April 21, 2011 - The home team advantage did not really apply to either team this afternoon as the Concordia Cougars and Marian University hooked up in Northern Athletics Conference play. Snow in Wisconsin forced a relocation of the doubleheader to Concordia's home field, although Marian retained the home team's privileges. In the end, the teams came away with a split as Concordia took the first game 8-1 and Marian the second game 3-1.

The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 second inning lead on Clarissa Gieseke's (Roselle, IL/Lake Park) hit, but it was a five-run fourth that decided game one. Corinne Kuhn's (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) single and Olivia Hires' (Denver, CO/Bear Creek) fielder's choice put Concordia up 3-0. Moments later, Taylor Golden (Chicago, IL/Trinity) came up with the bases loaded and drove the ball to the pocket in the left center where the fences come together. All three runners crossed the plate for a 6-0 lead.

The Sabres got on the board on Aubrey O'Brien's leadoff homer in the fourth, but the Cougars closed the scoring in the seventh. Back-to-back doubles by Megan White (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) and Sami DeFord (South Bend, IN/Marian) accounted for one run, and Caitlin Richards' (Chicago, IL/Mother McAuley) two-out single scored DeFord for the final run.

In game two, it was Marian that jumped out to the early lead. Brooke Haen provided the big blow with a bases-clearing double after an error had extended the inning.

Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) and DeFord combined to shut out the Sabres over the final six innings. but the Cougars were unable to get to Marian pitcher Cherise Waltz. Golden's third homer of the season in the fourth inning was the only dent on Waltz's performance as she silenced the Cougars on six hits.

Concordia (7-18, 5-9 NAC) will continue the homestand with a doubleheader against Maranatha Baptist Bible College on Saturday.