April 3, 2016- As far as conference opening series goes, the Concordia University Chicago Cougar softball team would be up against a tough task to begin the NACC schedule today. The Cougars would take on a very tough Aurora Spartan team in River Forest. Aurora would show their experience in a dramatic comeback win in game one by a score of 8-6. Then would be able to get the go-ahead run across in the sixth inning of game two to secure the NACC opening sweep of CUC.

In game one the Cougars would see leads disappear on multiple occasions as the Spartans would fight back. CUC would get off too their first lead of the game in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back bunt singles by the speedy one and two hitters Stefanie D'Anna (LaGrange Park, IL, Lyons Township) and Melissa Balkema (Saint John, IN, Hanover Central) would get things started quickly for CUC. One out later Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL, Crystal Lake South) would be able to bring in D'Anna to give CUC the early 1-0 lead, but would strand Balkema on third. 

Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL, Glenbard West) would take to the circle for her first appearance since the Florida trip. Aurora would answer back with one run in the top of the third off of Johnson. A leadoff walk be advanced on a sac bunt, and would later score after an unfortunate break. A shot would be hit back up the middle and strike Johnson in the foot and carom towards third but the runner would beat the throw to first allowing the run to score.

CUC would not let the score stay tied for long. With one out D'Anna would reach first on an infield single. Balkema would draw a full count walk, then Johnson would help herself out with a single to left scoring D'Anna from second. A throwing error by the Spartan thirdbasemen would allow Balkema and Johnson to advance to scoring position on the play. Bochat would hit a flyball to deep left field for a sac fly that would allow Balkema to easily tag-up from third. To cap off the inning it would be Michele Alexander (Tinley Park, IL, Andrew) who would provide the fireworks for CUC with a deep fly over the centerfield wall to swing all of the momentum in the favor of the Cougars. CUC would take the 5-1 lead into the fourth. 

Aurora would begin to chip away at the Cougar lead in the fourth with a solo homerun. Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL, Bartlett) would come on to work the top of the fifth in relief of Johnson then. Aurora would take advantage of two Cougar errors in the fifth and plate two more runs to cut the CUC lead to 6-4 after five. Both teams would go harmlessly into the seventh where Aurora would stage their comeback. Two more Cougar errors coupled by three hits in the inning would allow Aurora to plate four runs and close out the 8-6 victory over CUC.

CUC would not hang their heads in game two. They would fight back after Aurora would be able to tag Marita Van Dyke (Brownsburg, IN, Tri-West) for three runs in two and one thirds innings pitched. CUC would tie the game up in the bottom of the third. Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL, St. Edward) would lead off with a single through the left side. An Aurora error would allow D'Anna to reach, and then Balkema would have an infield single to load the bases for CUC's big bats. Bochat would bring one home, and Alexander would single to right scoring two more runs to tie the game at three.Both teams would be scoreless through the middle innings before Aurora would plate the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. CUC would get a runner aboard in the bottom half of the sixth, but would be unable to build a rally of their own. 

The Cougars (11-4, 0-2 NACC) will be back in action early this week in another tough NACC matchup with Benedictine. The game has been canceled for tomorrow April 4, 2016. It is tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.