May 4, 2014 - Determined to put the memories of yesterday's losses behind them, the Concordia Cougars hosted North Park University this afternoon. The battle between two regionally-ranked teams (NPU #5 in the Central, CUC #2 in the Midwest) was decided by the timely hitting of the home team with Concordia using a pair of three-run innings to take a 7-1 win.

C.J. Selner (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) took the mound and exhibited sharp control over his three innings of work. Selner struck out the side in the first inning and added a fourth to retire the last batter in the second. The southpaw allowed two hits in the third but was helped out of the jam by his catcher, senior Will Randerson (Combined Locks, WI/Kimberly). The Vikings attempted a double steal, but Randerson unleashed a rifle throw to second base to nail the runner,

The Cougars gave Selner the lead with a three-spot in the second inning. Kyle Huber (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) and Dan Eichholzer (Elwood, IL/Joliet Township) worked walks off of Vikings' starter John Nemcek. Colin Bethran (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.) then ripped a hot shot off the shortstop's glove to load the bases. Rich Santarelli (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian) and Dan Lo Dolce (Northlake, IL/Walther Lutheran) followed with infield grounders where the only plays were to first base as the Cougars grabbed a 2-0 lead. Steve Zubrzycki (McHenry, IL/Marian Central Catholic) then roped a single to center, driving home Bethran for the three-run lead.

Freshman Cody Caballero (Lemont, IL/H.S.) pitched the middle three innings for the Cougars. He kept the Vikings off the scoreboard, allowing just two hits while striking out three.

North Park finally got on the board with a run in the seventh, but a top defensive play ensured that one run was all the visitors would get. Mario Creecy's two-out single scored Mike Coduto, and Creecy took second on the throw home. Pinch-hitter Connor Sarant then smacked a single up the middle, but Eichholzer charged the ball and threw a strike from centerfield. Randerson applied the tag to Creecy, and the Cougars were out of the inning still leading 3-1.

The Cougars quickly got the run back as Zubrzycki led off their half of the seventh with a base hit. Zubrzycki stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. With two out, Will Polley (River Forest, IL/Oak Park-River Forest) doubled to the rightfield corner, restoring CUC's three-run lead.

In the eighth inning, all-time Concordia saves leader Steve Cox (Villa Park, IL/Willowbrook) got one final opportunity in front of the home crowd. An error and a walk put two men on base, and Cox entered the game after Kevin Pawell (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) retired Dan Sabin on a fly to short rightfield for the second out. Cox walked the first batter to load the bases but came back to strike out Coduto and end the Vikings' final threat.

Concordia's batters made sure they would have the final say in this contest. Bethran ripped a one-out double, his third hit of the game, to start the rally. Bethran stole third and scored when Santarelli poked a single up the middle through the drawn-in infield. With two out, the Cougars got consecutive singles by Zubrzycki, Randerson and Carlos Olavarria (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden), the latter two driving home the runs.

Cox made quick work of the Vikings in the ninth, getting two grounders to second sandwiched around a strikeout. He earned his eighth save of the season and 21st of his career to back Selner's fifth win of the season.

Following the game, the Cougars (32-5) honored their 10 senior players. They included Cox, Eichholzer, Huber, Pawell, Randerson, Eric Jensen (Niles, IL/Niles West), Dan Kluss (Niles, IL/Niles West), Jake Mijares (Cicero, IL/Nazareth Academy), Mike Sweeney (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame) and Ryan Thorsen (Lake Villa, IL/Grant Community).

Concordia will play its final regular-season game Monday night at Illinois Wesleyan University before preapring for the conference tournament later this week.