April 24, 2013 - One out away from coming up on the wrong end of a doubleheader sweep, the Concordia Cougar softball team pulled off a stunning last-minute rally for an 8-7 victory over North Park University. The comeback garnered a split of today's home doubleheader after the Vikings had won the first game 6-1.

Concordia trailed 7-3 entering the bottom of the seventh when Hannah Solyom (Lombard, IL/Walther Lutheran) led off with a bunt single. Caitlin Richards (Chicago, IL/Mother McAuley) drew a walk, but there were two out when Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) came to bat representing the Cougars' last chance. However, the North Park pitcher came too far inside on the first pitch, hitting Kelly to load the bases.

Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West), who had drilled a two-run homer (her eighth) earlier in the game, strode to the plate as the tying run. Johnson picked on a 1-1 pitch and drilled it to the gap in left-center. Solyom and Richards scored, and Johnson moved into scoring position on the double.

Sami DeFord (South Bend, IN/Marian), the Cougars' hottest hitter over the last week, was ready for the first pitch as she hit it back up the middle. Kelly and Johnson scored, and DeFord advanced all the way to third as the throw home from the centerfielder skipped past the catcher.

Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) delivered the winning blow as she lined an 0-1 pitch over the third baseman's head and down the line as DeFord trotted home with the winning run.

"Our team is playing with a lot of confidence right now," said head coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher. "If we keep playing with this type of attitude, we have a chance to make some noise in the conference tournament."

In game one, Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.) and Casey Latal hooked up in a scoreless duel for the first four innings. Salata worked out of a jam in the fourth inning when the Vikings put runners on third and second with no outs. However, the freshman hurler got three consecutive grounders back to the pitching circle and was able to keep the game scoreless.

The Vikings finally broke through in the fifth when they strung together five hits to score a pair of runs. Jenni Jensen (Chicago, IL/Luther North) prevented further damage by chasing down a single in left-center and nailing an advancing runner at third base.

North Park added two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. Concordia broke Latal's shutout bid in the seventh when DeFord led off with a double and scored on Bochat's single.

The Cougars (14-19) will resume Northern Athletics Conference play Thursday afternoon when they make up an earlier postponement against Wisconsin Lutheran College.