April 9, 2012 - The mystifying pattern of recent Concordia Cougar doubleheaders continued today as Lakeland College came to River Forest. A 10-2 loss to the Muskies in game one put the Cougars at 1-5 in the first of their six twinbills this season. However, an 18-3 seven-inning win in game two made the Cougars a perfect 6-0 in nightcaps.

"We did a great job swinging the bats in game two and doing what we do," said head coach Adam Smith. "But it's been very frustrating what's been happening that we can't come out strong in the first games. That's something we will figure out and make it right."

The Cougars fell behind after three batters in game one. Nate Soley doubled and Andy Chitwood singled ahead of Mike Ruzek's three-run homer over the fence in right.

Cam Stephens' (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) single got one run back for the Cougars in their initial at-bat. Concordia got within 3-2 in the third as Anthony Even (Franklin Park, IL/West Leyden) bunted for a base hit. Even stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on Nick Skala's (Long Grove, IL/St. Viator) sacrifice fly. But the Cougars' offense stopped there as they managed just three hits the rest of the way. Lakeland knocked Dan Kluss (Niles, IL/Niles West) out of the game with a six-run seventh. Kluss absorbed his first loss of the year after four straight wins. The sophomore allowed seven earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven while walking one.

Ryan Thorsen (Lake Villa, IL/Grant) started for the Cougars in game two. The southpaw worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first before Concordia's offense went to work. Brenden Schulz (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) singled and Skala walked, bringing Even to the plate. Even jumped on the first pitch and sent it over the fence in center for his first homer in a Cougar uniform, a three-run blast. However, the Cougars were not through yet. Stephens was hit by a pitch, and Will Randerson (Combined Locks, WI/Kimberly) reached base as the shortstop dropped the ball on an attempted force at second. Dan Eichholzer (Elwood, IL/Joliet Township) bunted for a base hit, loading the bases for Shawn Miller (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper). Miller also took advantage of a first-pitch fastball and drove it to the gap in left-center. Miller raced all the way to third as all three runners scored for a 6-0 lead after one.

The Cougars enjoyed an even bigger inning when they came to bat in the second. Skala led off with a shot to center for his fourth homer of the season. Even followed with a double, and Randerson reached base on a fielder's choice. Eichholzer then brought an early end to Chitwood's mound stay with a line shot over the rightfield fence for his first homer and a 10-0 lead.

The offensive assault continued against reliever Ryan Kryzkowski. Miller singled and Robert Weis (Oak Creek, WI/H.S.) tripled as the centerfielder missed a diving do-or-die attempt. Steve Zubrzycki (McHenry, IL/Marian Central Catholic) then scored Weis with a first-pitch single to left. Schulz singled, and Skala completed the nine-run outburst as he started it, this time leaving the yard in right. The shot gave Skala the fifth two-homer game of his career - his first coming almost two years ago to the day and also against Lakeland.

Lakeland scratched a run off of Thorsen in the third, but Concordia answered it on Zubrzycki's double. The Cougars' final runs came home on an Eichholzer single in the fourth and an Even double in the fifth. Even finished the game going 5-5 at the plate with three runs scored and four driven in, just missing the cycle by a triple.

Thorsen improved to 3-2 on the year, allowing one run on six hits through five innings. The sophomore fanned seven while walking three. Pat Conlin (Arlington Heights, IL/Rolling Meadows) worked the final two innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs while striking out two.

Concordia (18-6, 5-3 NAC) will play Dominican University on Saturday in Schaumburg before returning home Sunday to host Aurora University.