April 23, 2016 - With the push to make the conference tournament in full effect, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars headed north to Milwaukee today to take on Alverno College for another important NACC doubleheader. Today marked a special day for the team, as they set the all-time school wins record today. They took game one to set the record in dramatic comeback fashion by a score of 5-3. In game two, Alverno grabbed an early lead, but CUC answered with some timely hitting and great pitching to secure the 5-1 victory.

In game one, Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) manufactured the first run of the game by herself. She reached on a bunt tsingle to lead off, then advanced on a ground out and scored as the Alverno pitcher threw two pitches that eluded the catcher.

CUC sent Marita Van Dyke (Brownsburg, IN/Tri-West) to the circle for game one. Alverno scored  two runs (one earned) in the bottom of the first off of two hits. They would tack on a third in the bottom of the fifth on two singles.

The Cougars showed some magic in them in the top half of the seventh.  CUC had been pressuring Alverno all game, getting runners on in every inning, but the Inferno would not be able to stop CUC this time. Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL/St. Edward) and D'Anna led off the inning with back-to-back infield singles. They were sacrificed over to second and third before Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) cut the deficit in half with a single to right , scoring Kruk and advancing D'Anna to third. With two outs and runners at second and third, Michele Alexander (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) stepped up and laced a 3-1 pitch off of the left field wall that would allow the tying and go-ahead run to score. She was brought home when Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.) singled down the rightfield line to make it 5-3, CUC.

Van Dyke would not give the home Inferno any hope in the bottom of the seventh, striking out two to preserve the game. The game one win set the new all-time wins record for CUC. Van Dyke improve to 4-3 on the season with the win, allowing just four hits and striking out eight.  CUC had 10 hits in game one, led by D'Anna, Alexander, and Kruk with two apiece.

In game two, the Cougars came back again, but with a lot less stress.  Salata would get the ball in game two for CUC and pitch fantastic. Alverno scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the first when a leadoff single came around to score. CUC tallied its first runs of game two in the fourth. Alexander was plunked on the first pitch to begin the inning. Salata followed with a single to right center on the next pitch. A sacrifice bunt advanced them 60 feet with one out. Alexander then scored on a wild pitch, and Salata scored on a Kristina Morsovillo (Earlville, IL/H.S.) groundout to make it 2-1 in facor of the Cougars.

The Cougars tacked on important insurance runs in the fifth and seventh. In the fifth, Melissa Balkema (Saint John, IN/Hanover Central) led off with a single. Johnson singled to center and raced to second while Balkema scored as the throw from the centerfielder got away. Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) then drew a walk. Alexander drove in Johnson who advanced to third on a passed ball to make it 4-1.

CUC added one more run in the seventh. With one out, Bochat singled through the left side. Alexander drilled a 1-0 pitch into the right-center gap, advancing Bochat to third. Salata drove in Bochat with a fly ball deep enough for her to tag from third and make it 5-1. 

Salata improved to 6-1, allowing just the one run and six hits while striking out five. She also scored a run and have two hits in game two. Bochat and Kruk would also have two hits each in the game with Bochat scoring a run.

The Cougars (21-10 9-7 NACC) continue their strong playoff push Sunday against Wisconsin Lutheran College. Sunday is also senior day for the Cougars, honoring Bochat, Johnson, and Salata following the doubleheader. First pitch from River Forest is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.