May 19, 2016 - With a crucial first round win at the NCAA III Midwest Regional in their pocket, the Concordia-Chicago Cougars will now turn their attention to the Norse of Luther College as the two teams battle at 7:45 this evening at Copeland Park in LaCrosse, WI.

The Cougars (33-11) and Norse (33-12) are one of two second-round games in the winners' bracket. The winner of tonight's game will take on the winner of the other second-round game, Wisconsin-LaCrosse versus St. John's (MN) on Friday afternoon for the right to advance to the championship round on Saturday (and Sunday, if necessary).

Luther College from Decorah, IA defeated North Central 8-6 in yesterday's action. Centerfielder Alex Weber and catcher Mitch Knippenberg each went 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored, and the Norse held on for vidtory after seeing a 6-0 lead almost get away. Knippenberg leads his team with a .383 batting average, four homers and 48 RBIs. Weber, the Norse's leadoff man, bats .317 with 56 runs scored and is 16 of 18 in stolen bases.

While the Norse can put up runs in a hurry, the Cougars certainly showed their ability in last night's 13-2 win over Kalamazoo. Andrew Massey (Chicago, IL/St. Rita), Brent Spohr (Ingleside, IL/Grant Community) and Grant Davis (Morris, IL/Morris Community) drove in first-inning runs to jump-start CUC to a first-inning 3-0 lead. The Hornets narrowed it to 3-2 in the third, but the Cougars answered immediately with two runs of their own before putting the game away in the fourth with six runs. Spohr and Davis each finished with three RBIs

Each team will have the benefit this evening of a rested bullpen. Luther starter Nate Beckman went the distance against North Central while Mike Formella (Homer Glen, IL/Lockport Township) and Nick Barnhill (Normal, IL/Normal West) saved the Cougars' pen after starter Eric Palmer (Melrose Park, IL/West Leyden) left the game in the third inning. Formella earned the win to improve to 8-2 while Barnhill pitched the final four innings to pick up his first save.  

The Midwest Regional web page will again have the live stats and video links for tonight's game. Cougar fans can also listen to C.J. Selner call the action on www.mixlr.com/cucougars, with the broadcast beginning at approximately 7:40.