May 7, 2015 - Coming off consecutive games in which the Concordia University Chicago baseball team left the outcome in doubt until literally the final pitch, the Cougars eliminated the suspense this evening. Concordia-Chicago took a first inning lead in their second-round game of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament and never let go. The Cougars defeated third-seeded Edgewood College 9-4 under the lights at Kapco Park in Mequon, WI, eliminating the Eagles while advancing themselves to Friday night's third round.
Jeff Von Moser (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame) was hit by a pitch with one out in the first to start the offense rolling. Carlos Olavarria (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) followed with a double to center, giving CUC two runners in scoring position. Brent Spohr (Ingleside, IL/Grant Community) cracked a single to left for the game's first run. Moments later, Edgewood's pitcher threw to first base to keep Spohr close to the bag but, instead, the throw got away as Olavarria raced down the line to score for a 2-0 lead.
Olavarria gave the Cougars their third run two innings later as he laid down a perfect bunt single with one out. The senior stole second, took third on a groundout to second and scored when Mitch Wilson (Oswego, IL/H.S.) singled up the middle.
Adam Schmitt (Bartonville, IL/Limestone), who was named to the conference's All-Freshman team earlier in the day, was CUC's starter for this game. He pitched three shutout innings but ran into trouble as Edgewood's first two hits opened the inning. A groundout scored one run, and Carlos Herrera singled home a second run with two out to make the score 3-2. With Schmitt's pitch count already at 75, CUC head coach Adam Smith went to the bullpen for another freshman arm. Mike Formella (Homer Glen, IL/Lockport Township) went to a full count against Edgewood's leadoff hitter Danny Appino before getting a groundout to shortstop to end the inning.
"Adam and Mike really came through for us in this game," said Smith. "Adam's control wasn't as sharp as usual, but he really battled for us and gave us a good opportunity to win. Then Mike came in and put out their fire and was able to hold them down the rest of the way. It was great to see more of our freshmen come through in their first taste of tournament action and contribute to a victory."
The Cougars got the two runs back in the fifth and did so after two were out. Wilson hit a screamer to the second baseman that went for an infield hit, and a throwing error sent him to second. Doug Matthews (Crest Hill, IL/Lockport Township) drew a walk, and both runners scored when Thomas Gier (Fox Lake, IL/Grant Community) hit a 3-2 pitch into leftfield for a two-run single to restore CUC's three-run lead.
Edgewood pulled one run back in the seventh following a leadoff triple, but CUC answered immediately. Wilson reached on his third hit of the game, stole second and scored on Gier's two-out single. For Gier, it was his fifth hit of the day between the Cougars' two games and his fourth RBI.
Leading 6-3, the Cougars put the finishing touches on their 28th win in the eighth inning. Will Randerson (Combined Locks, WI/Kimberly) led off with a single, stole second and moved up 90 feet on a grounder to second. Coach Smith then signaled for the squeeze, and Von Moser got the bunt down. The pitcher looked to get the out at home, but Randerson beat the flip to the catcher and slid under the tag. Olavarria then golfed a 2-0 pitch deep down the leftfield line that cleared the fence for a two-run homer (his fifth of the season) and a 9-3 lead. Edgewood scored a consolation run in the ninth, but it was not enough to keep the Cougars from a date in tomorrow night's third round.
Concordia-Chicago will play the winner of tomorrow's 1:00 game between Benedictine and Concordia Wisconsin. A win in that 7:00 contest would advance CUC to Saturday's championship round where they would have two opportunities to win one game and book passage to the NCAA III regional tournament.
