April 19, 2014 – The Cougar softball team resumed Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play on Saturday and played two games at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The first game was a tough 4-1 loss. However, the Cougars reversed that score and handed MSOE a 4-1 defeat in game two.
 
Head Coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher said after the games, "This was another series that was a tale of two games. The pitchers did a great job in both games, and Michele Alexander (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) was in control behind the plate managing both pitchers. When we play smart softball, we play well. It is all about consistently playing smart at this point in the season."
 
In the first game of the day, Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) was in the circle. She pitched a complete game with five hits, three strikeouts and a walk. Unfortunately, four errors by Cougar fielders let in three runs that proved decisive.
 
Concordia started quickly and took the lead in the top of the first inning. Johnson drew a walk after two outs, and Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) doubled bringing her home for a 1-0 lead. Bochat had three hits in the game. The Cougars kept the lead till the bottom of the second when an error helped tie the game. In the bottom of the third, another error helped MSOE take a 2-1 lead, and they never looked back.
 
In game two, Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) started in the circle. She pitched a complete game with five hits, 3 strikeouts and a walk. This time, the Cougars had three less errors and seven more hits giving Kelly her first win of the season.
 
CUC took the lead in the top of the second inning as Jenni Jensen (Chicago, IL/Luther North) doubled to lead off the inning. Jensen scored as Emmy Vowell (Peotone, IL/Peotone) attempted to steal second and drew the fielders' attention, making it 1-0. In the fourth inning, Bochat continued her stellar hitting performance with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She advanced to third on another wild pitch and scored on a Vowell single.
 
In the fifth, MSOE scored after an error allowed the leadoff hitter on base. However, the inning ended with a tremendous diving catch by Vowell on a line drive to second base. In the top of the sixth, the Cougars got the run back. Emily Owens (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley), who swung the bat well all day according to O'Malley-Fisher, singled to lead off. Johnson walked, Bochat reached on a fielder's choice, and Jensen walked to load the bases. Vowell singled in another run and kept the bases loaded with one out, but the Cougars were unable to stretch their lead any further at the time.
 
In the top of the seventh, CUC added an insurance run as Hannah Solyom (Lombard, IL/Walther Lutheran) singled to lead off and was moved along by Kelly. She went to third on a passed ball and made it home on a wild pitch. This set the final score line at 4-1 in favor of the Cougars.
 
The Cougars return to the diamond on Monday when they play conference rival Concordia-Wisconsin in Mequon in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00.