April 23, 2014 – The Cougar softball team traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin on Wednesday to take on a perennially ranked Carthage softball team for two games. This break in conference action was another reschedule as the result of the unseasonably cool and wet spring. The first game was a tough 9-0 loss in 6 innings. The Cougars fought hard in game two despite a 6-2 loss on a frigid evening with the wind whipping off Lake Michigan and the starting temperature in the low forties.
 
Head Coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher said after the games, "Playing a team that is ranked nationally most years is a good measuring stick for our program. Obviously, we had these games scheduled as a good test leading into the conference season, but the weather changed our plans. We were able to see that we could play with them most of the time, but our overall consistency needs to improve and will as our team matures and grows over the next few years. The experienced gained by the young players this year will be invaluable."
 
In the first game of the day, Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) was in the circle dueling the Carthage ace. After two smooth innings to open the game, Johnson ran into a spot of trouble in the third where three runs were scored. The fourth inning was good before more trouble in the fifth where four runs were scored, bringing Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/Bartlett) into the game in relief. A two run homer in the sixth ended the game via slaughter rule at 9-0. While the Cougars earned four walks, they managed only two hits.
 
In game two, Andrea Kelly (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) started in the circle and pitched three innings before the planned switch to Salata. The Cougar bats started better as they had runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the second inning, but didn't score.
 
Carthage scored three in the bottom of the third, but the Cougars responded immediately in the top of the fourth. Johnson doubled to rightfield leading off the inning. Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) grounded out moving her to third and Jenni Jensen (Chicago, IL/Luther North) doubled to left scoring Johnson to make it 3-1. Jensen made it to third base, but was stranded.
 
Concordia was peppered with a run in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the sixth, but theycontinued to show their determination. In the top of the sixth inning, Johnson again sparked the Cougar scoring. She was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and reached second base on a wild pitch. She reached third on a Jensen ground out and then Emmy Vowell (Peotone, IL/H.S.) singled her home for the final margin of 6-2.
 
Concordia-Chicago returns to the diamond on Friday, April 25. They host Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opponent Benedictine University in a doubleheader in River Forest.