March 31, 2015 – The home opener for the Cougars occurred on a sunny but brisk day in River Forest, IL. as CUC met non-conference opponent Carthage College in doubleheader action on Tuesday. The fans in attendance got to enjoy the spring weather and two exciting, action-packed games. The first game of the afternoon saw Carthage prevail 7-5 and the second saw Concordia-Chicago win 5-3 for a split on the day.
 
CUC head coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher said, "This was a good example of team ball. We had several players stand out in each game and be supported by solid ball from teammates. In the first game, it didn't go our way but it did in the second game. We look to carry the momentum forward to the rest of the games this week."
 
In game one, freshman Julianne Nation (Oswego, IL/Oswego) started at pitcher, and the Cougar bats came out quickly and provided her early support. The Cougars scored in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead as Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.) drove in Hannah Solyom (Lombard, IL/Walther Lutheran). In the second, Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL/St. Edward) reached on an error and made it to second base on a wild pitch. Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) then reached on an error, allowing Kruk to make it home from second base.
 
Carthage scored solo runs in the second and third innings before tallying two runs In the top of the fourth on three hits and three Cougar errors. However, in the bottom of the fourth, CUC struck back for two of their own to tie the game at four runs apiece. After Adriana Cura (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield South) singled to lead off the inning, she was moved to third base where Kruk singled her home. Kruk then dazzled by stealing second, but she didn't stop there as the catcher threw the ball into centerfield, and Kruk showed her speed by making it all the way home on the error to tie the game.
 
Unfortunately, the Lady Reds added three runs in the top of the fofth to take a 7-4 lead. The Cougars were only able to get one back in the bottom of the inning as Michele Alexander (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) drove in Emmy Vowell (Peotone, IL/H.S.). The final score was 7-5 in favor of Carthage.
 
In game two of the doubleheader, Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) pitched a good game carrying a no hitter through the first 3 1/3 innings and earning the win. Johnson was helped out by her teammates, who got off to a fast start with the bats. With Kruk on second base in the bottom of the first, Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) moved her to third with two out. Salata then singled to right field scoring Kruk and moving Bochat to third. Bochat scored moments later on a Carthage error for the 2-0 lead.
 
In the next inning, Cura led off being hit by a pitch and was moved to second on a Vowell single. D'Anna sacrificed them to second and third, and Kruk reached on an infield single to load the bases. Jenni Jensen (Chicago, IL/Luther North) doubled in two runs and advanced to second as Kruk was caught at third. Bochat then doubled in Jensen to extend the Cougars lead to 5-0.
 
Carthage clawed three runs back in the top of the sixth, but the Cougar defense came through and closed out the game in the seventh for a 5-3 victory.
 
The Cougars return to their NACC schedule tomorrow on Wednesday, April 1 at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The games are at 5 and 7 p.m. to complete contests rescheduled from Sunday, March 29. CUC returns to their regularly scheduled games on Thursday, April 2 at non-conference opponent North Central College.