April 24, 2016 - Changing a culture is a tough thing to do. The Cougars have undergone many changes in the four seasons under Sarah O'Malley-Fisher. The Cougars were able to honor the three young women today that have been key parts of the change over their four years at CUC - Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South), Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) and Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.)  The Cougars were right in the heart of the NACC chase as they took on the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors in a big conference doubleheader with just one weekend to go. WLC received a great pitching performance in game one to take down CUC 2-0. In game two, CUC created some early offense and great pitching in defeating the Warriors 4-1.

In game one, WLC rode the strong pitching performance of Taylor Bjork. CUC could manage just two hits off of Bjork. She was countered with a strong pitching performance by CUC senior Johnson, who allowed  just one earned run in the sixth while going the distance for CUC.

Game two was much more favorable for CUC. The bats came alive right away. Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) led off the bottom of the first, reaching on an error. After being advanced to second base on a bunt, Johnson drove her home when she launched a 3-2 pitch high in the air and just over the rightfield fence to make it 2-0 CUC. The Cougars continued to put their foot on the gas in the bottom of the second. Emily OWens (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) started the rally by smashing a single past the third basemen. She would be sacrificed to second. D'Anna stepped up with two outs and singled to leftfield and advanced to second without a throw, catching the WLC defense napping. Melissa Balkema (Saint John, IN/HAnover Central) brought the large CUC crowd to its feet with a single through the left side scoring both D'Anna and Owens and making it 4-0 CUC.

WLC got one unearned run back in the top of the fifth. Otherwise, the Cougar pitching was up to the challenge. Marita Van Dyke (Brownsburg, IN/Tri-West) started game two for CUC and picked up her fifth win of the year, working the first four innings and allowing just three hits. Salata came on in relief and picked up her third save of the year, throwing three innings, allowing two hits and striking out four.

Following game two, the three seniors (Bochat, Johnson, Salata) would be honored for all their achievements. The winningest class in CUC history, they have also set the single season wins record which is still growing. Many personal records have also been broken by these three young women.

After today's results, the Cougars sit in fifth place in the NACC. They are in control of their own destiny in the NACC playoff chase. CUC continues its pursuit of a second straight tournament appearance on Friday in Milwaukee. First pitch against MSOE is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.