April 17, 2016 - With the first good weather weekend of the softball season, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars also started to heat up as they continued in the NACC playoff chase. The Cougars hosted the Rockford Regents looking to get above .500 in conference, and move up in the NACC conference standings. The Cougars were successful today in finishing off a 4-0 weekend with a 7-0 and 6-0 sweep of Rockford. Julianne Nation (Oswego, IL/H.S.) and Courtney Pepper (South Bend, IN/Penn) pitched almost perfect in the two games, Nation allowing just two hits in game one, and Pepper allowing just one hit in game two.

In game one, CUC pulled away early, scoring in each of the first three innings. Like a record on repeat in the first, Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) led off the game taking a 0-2 pitch to leftfield. She stole second on the next pitch. Melissa Balkema (Saint John, IN/Hanover Central) doubled to centerfield off of the wall that brought D'Anna around to score for the 1-0 lead.

CUC worked a run in to score in the second. Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.) would reach on an error. Then, it would be two straight bunt singles by Megan Strong (Bartlett, IL/St. Edward) and Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL/St. Edward) to load the bases. With two outs, Balkema worked a 10-pitch walk to bring Salata home and make it 2-0

In the third, CUC scored two runs on five straight hits with two out. Emily Owens (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) reached on an infield single that deflected off the pitcher. Salata also reached on an infield single. Strong loaded the bases with a bunt single. Kruk then hit a single to left-center, but it was hit so quickly that only one run could score. D'Anna drove in another run on an infield single, but CUC tried to catch Rockford napping with Strong running home. However, the throw would be just in time to end the inning with the score 4-0 CUC. 

The Cougars would be back at it with the bats in the fifth. Michele Alexander (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) led off the fifth with a double off the centerfield wall. Salata reached on an error to put two runners on for Kristina Morsovillo (Earlville, IL/H.S.). Morsovillo swung and missed at the first pitch of the at-bat but did not miss the 0-1, putting it up into the air deep to left and clearing the wall. The three-run shot was the first of her career and the third of the weekend for CUC. 

Nation was the story for the Cougars in the game, however. The sophomore pitcher improved to 4-2 on the year, going the distance in game one. She faced just four batters over the minimum while also striking out seven. Kruk would lead the Cougar attack on the offensive side, going a perfect 3-3 in the game.

Game two was Pepper's turn to take to the circle and dominate. The sophomore carried a no-hitter into the fourth and allowed just the one hit in the game. By that point though, she would have all the run support that she needed as CUC scored in the first and second innings. D'Anna would lead off with a bunt single. She came in when Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) drove a 1-0 pitch to right field for a double. Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) singled through the left side with one out, but they would be stranded in scoring position. 

CUC added another run in the second. Morsovillo worked a five-pitch walk to lead off the inning and stole second with one out. Kruk singled through the right side on a 3-2 pitch, allowing Morsovillo to come around and score to make it 2-0. In the fifth, CUC tacked on another run. With one out, Balkema reached on an infield single. She advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop, and then promptly stole third. Johnson and Bochat would bring her home easily with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-0.

The Cougars built their lead out to a comfortable margin in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Strong reached on an infield single to the shortstop. Kruk followed with a double to right-center to put runners at second and third. D'Anna then singled to left field, scoring Strong. Balkema ended the Cougar scoring on the day with a double to left field, allowing both D'Anna and Kruk to score and make it 6-0.

Pepper went the distance in game two, facing just two above the minimum. She allowed just the one fourth-inning hit in the game while striking out eight. The top four batters in the order (D'Anna, Balkema, Johnson and Bochat) combined to have nine hits in game two. 

The Cougars (18-7 7-5 NACC) put themselves right back in the thick of the NACC playoff race with the 4-0 weekend. They will continue their playoff push with another NACC doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday afternoon against Benedictine. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m from the Concordia Softball Field.