May 12, 2012 - Energized by a thrilling late comeback versus Benedictine University, the Concordia Cougars squared off against Aurora University in the first of two possible games in the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament championship round. The Cougars and Spartans battled with the competitiveness of champions but, in the end, the Spartans hoisted the trophy as they put across a run in the bottom of the tenth inning for a 6-5 victory.
A leadoff single and error put Brenden Schulz (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) on second base, but he was doubled off moments later as Robert Weis' (Oak Creek, WI/H.S.) liner was snared by the first baseman. Undaunted, the Cougars stayed on the attack as Anthony Even (Franklin Park, IL/West Leyden) hit Stephen Sitterly's 3-1 pitch past third base for a double. Nick Skala (Long Grove, IL/St. Viator) was hit by a pitch, bringing Shawn Miller (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) to the plate. Miller fought off a 1-2 pitch and blooped it into centerfield for a base hit. Even scored, but Skala was thrown out at the plate trying to score a second run.
Freshman Kurt Kempema (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.), who pitched well in his one previous start at Carthage College, took the mound for the Cougars. The southpaw shut down the Spartans in the first, allowing just a one-out bunt single. However, Aurora bunched together four singles in the second and, helped by two passed balls, scored a pair of runs. Kempema came back to get the third out with two runners in scoring position and keep the Cougars within 2-1.
The Cougars struck back quickly in the third. Schulz singled with one out and was replaced by Weis on a fielder's choice. Even singled up a middle, and Skala followed with a single to right-center to knot the score. Miller then hit a very high fly to left that got up in the wind. The ball stayed in the park but was dropped by the leftfielder as Even scored and Skala went to third. Dan Eichholzer (Elwood, IL/Joliet Township) made it a three-run inning as he singled to rightfield to score Skala.
Kempema allowed just one base runner through the next two innings, but the Spartans retaliated in the fifth after the Cougars were unable to cash in on a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity. Tim Mackey walked to start the inning and scored on Carlos Olavarria's double to right-center. Kempema retired Ryan Adams on a pop to shortstop before leaving the game in favor of Kevin Pawell (Kenosha, WI/Bradford). Pawell got Brett VasAsdlen to ground to third, but the ball was booted to put runners at the corners. Cory Walden singled down the third base line to bring home the tying run. Pawell then induced a potential double-play ball, but a brief bobble gave the Cougars the out at second only. That proved costly as Josh Davidson looped a soft two-out single to left, scoring Van Asdlen with the go-ahead run.
As in the earlier game against Benedictine, Concordia came up big in the eighth inning. With one out, pinch-hitter Will Randerson (Combined Locks, WI/Kimberly) doubled to left-center. Pinch-runner Robert Frampton (North Riverside, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) made third as Rich Santarelli's (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian) fly ball fell between the center and rightfielders. Schulz then hit a sharp liner to rightfield. Mike Foley pounced on the ball and was able to throw to second for the force out, but Frampton crossed the plate to tie the game 5-5.
The Cougars were unable to capitalize on chances in the ninth and tenth innings. They had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but Thomas Ozlanski retired pinch-hitter Tony Barreto (Cicero, IL/Nazareth Academy) on a liner to short rightfield and Santarelli on a grounder to short. In the tenth, Weis hit a rocket off the pitcher's foot and made second when the third baseman threw wildly. But new relief pitcher Luke Gilbertson struck out Even and got Skala on a fly to center.
Aurora scored their winning run with the use of some "small ball." After Tim Milroy (Batavia, IL/Marmion Academy) retired Cory Walden on a pop-up, Foley hit a high chopper that went for an infield hit. Davidson then bunted past Milroy and beat the throw to put runners on first and second. Ryan McMahon then laced the first pitch from Milroy to right-center. Miller made a futile diving attempt but could only watch as the ball rolled to the wall as Foley came around to score.
Despite taking the loss, Milroy was masterful on the mound. After saving the earlier game against Benedictine, Milroy threw 57 pitches, entering the game in the bottom of the sixth. He would finish with 4 1/3 innings pitched allowing just the one run on four hits.
The Cougars are currently 33-12 on the season. They will now await word on the possibility of an at-large bid to one of the eight NCAA Division III regionals.
