March 28, 2015 – After a 20-day layoff and in weather 35 degrees cooler, the Cougar softball team resumed play on Saturday with a doubleheader against conference opponent Lakeland College. The Cougars split the two games in Sheboygan, as they lost the first game 10-2 in five innings and won the second 11-6.
 
The first game started out slowly as both teams got used to playing another opponent. Unfortunately, it was the Muskies that adjusted first and scored seven runs in the bottom of the second on four hits and three errors. The Cougars came back in the top of the third with a run of their own as Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) and Hannah Solyom (Lombard, IL/Walther Lutheran) each singled leading off the inning. With runners on first and second, a double steal moved both runners along and then another steal scored D'Anna.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Lakeland added three more runs. Emmy Vowell (Peotone, IL/Peotone) led off the top of the fifth with a home run. D'Anna then reached base, but Concordia-Chicago couldn't take advantage as she was stranded on third to end the inning and the game.
 
After a short break, the second game of the day commenced with freshman Courtney Pepper (South Bend, IN/Penn) on the mound. She pitched a complete game for her first collegiate victory. The pitchers were in control for both teams through the first three innings as neither team got a hit. In the top of the fourth, the Cougars struck first as Solyom reached base from the lead off position. Jenni Jensen (Chicago, IL/Luther North) doubled, putting her within reach of the CUC career doubles record, and moving Solyom to third. After an out, Meghan Johnson  (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) singled in both runners and advanced to second. Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/Bartlett) was able to advance Johnson to third, and Michelle Alexander (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) singled her home for a 3-0 lead.
 
The Muskies got back two runs in the bottom of the fourth and then got four more in the fifth on one hit and two errors to take a 6-3 lead. But the Cougars narrowed the gap in the sixth as Johnson singled in Jensen and Haley Kalinichenko (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) sacrificed to score Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South).

Lakeland changed pitchers as the game went to the seventh, but it did not work out as they hoped as the Cougars scored six runs in the inning on seven hits and three errors. Vowell reached on an error and D'Anna singled. Vowell scored on another error to tie the game that also allowed Solyom to reach first base. Jensen sacrificed, advancing D'Anna and Solyom to second and third respectively. Then Bochat doubled for the second time in the game scoring both runners and giving CUC a lead they would not relinquish. Johnson lined out moving Bochat to third, and Salata singled, bringing Bochat home. Alexander and Adrianna Cura (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield South) singled, and Vowell singled scoring Salata. D'Anna singled scoring Alexander and making the final margin 11-6 in favor of Concordia-Chicago as they held Lakeland scoreless in the bottom of the seventh for the victory.
 
Concordia's game on Sunday March 29 has been postponed for weather related reasons. A makeup date has not been determined at this time. The next scheduled game is the Cougars first home game of the year on Tuesday, March 31 as they host nonconference opponent Carthage College in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.