March 6, 2015 - Concordia-Chicago baseball fans felt a slight chill this afternoon, and only some of it could be attributed to the unseasonably cool temperatures descending on Auburndale, Florida today. The Cougars' offense, defense and pitching all had difficult days against a tough (27-6-1 in 2014) Wheaton College of Massachusetts. The Lyons led from the top of the first inning on, and the Cougars could never get on track, resulting in a 5-2 loss.

Eric Palmer (Melrose Park, IL/West Leyden) made his first start for CUC since last March when an elbow injury ended his 2014 season. Pitchers on both teams struggled with inconsistencies in control today, and the Cougars' righthander was the first to feel the effects. Palmer got ahead of the leadoff batter 1-2 but then hit him on the next pitch. A single to right followed, putting runners on the corners, and a passed ball would score the runner from third.

Palmer came back to retire six consecutive batters and worked out of a jam in the third caused by an error and a walk. But Wheaton got things rolling again in the fourth  when the first two batters reached on base hits. Palmer came back to retire the next two batters and was on the verge of escaping more trouble, but a walk, hit batsman and another walk forced in a pair of runs to make the score 3-0, Wheaton.

Ryan Hayes (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.) relieved Palmer to start the fifth after Palmer had thrown 88 pitches. The Lyons scored a run on two walks and a single, but catcher Will Randerson (Combined Locks, WI/Kimberly) threw out a base stealer at second to prevent further damage.

While the Lyons were building their lead, the Cougars were unable to scratch against Wheaton starter Jared Clement. CUC managed just one hit - a third-inning single by Rich Santarelli (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian) - and four baserunners total. The Cougars put two aboard in the fourth with one out but were victimized for the second straight day by a sharp line drive that was turned into a double play.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars caught a break and got on the board. Mitch Wilson (Oswego, IL/H.S.) reached on a one-out walk, and Carlos Olavarria (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) beat out a high chopper to shortstop for a base hit. One out later, Thomas Gier (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Community) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Lyons went to the bullpen, and the Cougars countered with right-handed pinch-hitter Brent Spohr (Ingleside, IL/Grant Community). Spohr hit a 2-1 pitch to the second baseman, but the ball rolled between his wickets into rightfield as Wilson and Olavarria scored to make the score Wheaton 4, CUC 2.

Nick Barnhill (Normal, IL/Normal West) kept CUC in the game with three solid innings of relief but was touched for an unearned run in the eighth. A walk and double set up the situation, although a nifty relay between centerfielder Joe Silva (Arlington Heights, IL/Hersey), Santarelli and third baseman Cody Rupp (Bartonville, IL/Limestone) cut down a runner at third to talke out a baserunner, However, a throwing error moments later allowed the insurance tally to score.

The Cougars' frustration on this day was highlighted in the bottom of the eighth.as they missed out on a golden opportunity. Olavarria led off with a beautiful bunt single down the third-base line. Silva and Gier were hit by pitches, loading the bases with nobody out. But the Lyons went to their bullpen for Mike Bisceglia, and their closer did a masterful job shutting the door with a strikeout and two fly balls in denying the Cougars any runs. In the ninth, the Cougars got a two-out single from Wilson, but Bisceglia retired Olavarria on a grounder to second to give Wheaton a season-opening victory while dropping the Cougars to 3-3.

Concordia will look to get back on the winning track Saturday at 3:00 (EST) when  they take on Suffolk College of Massachusetts.