April 29, 2016 - With the school year coming to a close, there are many things to focus on for the Concordia University Chicago Softball team. They came into the day sitting alone in fifth place in a red- hot NACC playoff race. They focused in on the softball and turned up the heat at the plate scoring 23 runs, pounding out 33 hits and leaving MSOE with their heads high and full of confidence. CUC's bats came alive in the middle innings of both games, putting up a six-run fifth in game one to win 12-10., and all of their runs in the fifth and seventh innings of game two en route to an 11-4 victory and the sweep.

In game one, CUC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first. Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) led off with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt advanced her 60 feet. Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) followed with a walk, and Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single by Michele Alexander (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) plated D'Anna, but CUC failed to score anymore in the inning. The lead did not last long as MSOE came back with four runs in the bottom of the first on four hits to make it 4-1 Raiders after one. MSOE extended their lead in the bottom of the third with two homeruns to make it 7-1.

CUC's comeback began in the top half of the fourth. Emily Owens (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) singled to center to get things started. With one out and Kristina Morsovillo (Earlville, IL/H.S.) on first, Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL/St. Edward) looped a double down the right field line to put runners at second and third. D'Anna singled through the left side to plate Morsovillo and advanced to second on the throw. Melissa Balkema (Saint John, IN/Hanover Central) singled sharply through the left side that allowed Kruk to score. Johnson drove in the final run of the inning on a groundout to second to make it 7-4 MSOE.

The Raiders scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to go back up by four, but the Cougars' big rally came in the top of the fifth. Bochat began the inning with a single through the left side. Alexander drew a walk to put two on base. One out later, Owens was hit on the thigh with a pitch to load the bases. Morsovillo singled to right, scoring pinch-runner Megan Strong (Bartlett, IL/St. Edward)). Kruk forced home a run after drawing a walk to make it 7-6. With two outs and the bases loaded, Balkema stepped to the plate. The CUC shortstop laced a double off the left field wall, clearing the bases. Johnson would not leave Balkema there for long, bringing her home with a sharp single up the middle and making it 10-7 CUC.

The Cougars continued to hit and added what proved to be important insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. With two outs and Owens on first, Morsovillo continued her hot day with a ground-rule double to right. Kruk reached on an infield single, allowing Owens to score. In the seventh, it was one big blast for CUC. Leading off the inning, Balkema drove her first homerun as a Cougar to right- center field for a crucial line drive opposite field homerun to give CUC the 12-8 lead.

The bottom of the seventh was no cakewalk. Johnson, who was fantastic in relief, found herself in trouble in the inning. Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.) was called upon to close out the game for CUC. After a walk, Salata was able to induce two pop outs and a strikeout to preserve the 12-10 win. Johnson picked up her fourth win of the year in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Salata earned her fourth save of the year as well. Balkema led the Cougars' 16-hit attack with three hits while driving in a career-high five runs.

Game two was just as crucial for CUC. MSOE scratched across single runs in the first and the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. However, the fifth would be the Cougars' inning again in game two. With one out, Kruk singled to center. D'Anna doubled to left-center to put two in scoring position. Balkema followed with a sharp single up the middle scoring Kruk. Johnson singled through the right side to tie the game at two. A passed ball then scored Balkema to give CUC the lead. Bochat continued the hitting parade with a single to right field scoring pinch runner Courtney Pepper (South B
end, IN/Penn).  After an Alexander single with two outs, Marita Van Dyke (Brownsburg, IN/Tri-West) stepped up and hammered a double down the left field line, scoring two more to close out the six-run fifth for CUC.

Leading 6-2 going into the top of the seventh, the Cougars put the nail in the coffin of MSOE with the long ball. Bochat led off the inning with a mammoth homerun to left field. Not to be outdone, Alexander followed with a towering shot of her own over the right-center wall. The back-to-back bombs made it 8-2 CUC but the Cougars were not be done. With one out, Van Dyke came within inches of a third homerun in the inning but settled for a double. Morsovillo singled to center to put runners at the corners. Kruk singled through the right side to score pinch-runner Strong from third. Johnson finished out the high-scoring day for CUC with a two-run single through the right side, making it 11-2 CUC.

Van Dyke went the distance for CUC in game two, picking up her sixth win of the season. She struck out six and allowed just six hits in the contest.  Johnson paced the 17-hit Cougar attack going 4-5 in game two while driving in three runs.  

The Cougars (24-11 12-8 NACC), in control of their destiny in the playoff push, will conclude the regular season back in Wisconsin tomorrow. They will take on rival Concordia University Wisconsin with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m from Mequon.