Box Score March 7, 2016 - The Concordia-Chicago baseball team improved to 5-0 on the season with a 12-3 win over Montclair State University of New Jersey on Monday afternoon in Auburndale, FL.

Righthander Alex Meyers (Edwardsville, IL/H.S.) handled the pitching part of things with seven strong innings to gain his second win of the season. Freshman Ryan Tishka (Mokena, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) made his CUC debut in pitching the final two innings without allowing a run.

The Cougars jumped on top with four runs in the top of the second. Doubles were the key to the inning as back-to-back two-baggers by Doug Matthews (Crest Hill, IL/Lockport Township) and Brady Roberts (Aurora, IL/Marmion Academy) drove home the first two tallies. After a walk, Andrew Massey (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) doubled to score the two runners on base for a 4-0 lead.

The Red Hawks scored all three of their runs in the third (one unearned) to make things interesting, However, Meyers ended that inning with a double play and then hit a groove, retiring 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced.

Concordia-Chicago began to pull away in the sixth and sevenths. In the sixth, Keegan Tyrell's (Joliet, IL/Joliet Catholic) RBI single put the lead at 5-3. In the following inning, Brent Spohr (Ingleside, IL/Grant Community) doubled and Joe Silva (Arlington Heights, IL/Hersey) walked. A sacrifice by Connor Brandon (Joliet, IL/Joliet Catholic Academy) set the table for Matthews who promptly ripped a two-run single to stretch the CUC lead to 7-3.

The Cougars ran away with the game in the eighth. After two out, an error on the MSU shortstop with the bases loaded opened the door. Roberts walked to force in the second run of the inning, and Tyrell doubled to score two and bring the lead to 11-3. CUC added their final run in the ninth on Brendan Klein's (St. Charles, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) RBI pinch-single.

Next up for CUC is a doubleheader (two seven-inning games) against Bridgewater College of Virginia on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. in Leesburg, FL.