May 6, 2016 - After the tense moments of the first of the elimination games for the Concordia University Chicago Cougars today, they would have to turn around for another elimination matchup. It was a rematch between the Cougars and the Benedictine Eagles. CUC used power to jump out early to a 3-1 lead, but the Eagles fought back with two runs in the sixth and then the walk-off run in the seventh for a 4-3 victory.

CUC broke the long streak of shutout innings thrown by Benedictine to grab the momentum in their first at-bats. With one out, Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL/St. Edward) drove a 1-2 pitch to left-center for a double. Melissa Balkema (Saint John, IN/Hanover Central) wasted no time to get the momentum on the Cougars' side. With the count full, Balkema hammered a long high fly ball just inside the left field foul pole to give CUC the early lead.

Alicia Salata (Bartlett, IL/H.S.) got the start inside the circle for CUC. Benedictine had their first two runners reach and would manufacture a run in the bottom of the first to cut the CUC lead to 2-1.
Salata and Benedictine ace Holly Haberkorn settled in over the next two innings. A diving catch by Courtney Pepper (South Bend, IN/Penn) ended the Benedictine half of the third and got the big Cougar following on their feet.

The Cougars continued to capitalize on the momentum instantly. Recently named second-team All-NACC Meghan Johnson (Glendale Heights, IL/Glenbard West) got hold of an 0-1 pitch and launched a line drive to dead center to make it 3-1 CUC. Salata followed with a big shutdown inning, working around a leadoff single to preserve the CUC lead.

The Cougars continued to play the defensive side well with Salata working a 1-2-3 fifth, highlighted by a big strikeout looking to the Benedictine three hitter who had only struck out nine times on the year. CUC threatened to add to the lead in the top of the sixth, loading the bases, but they would be unable to score. Benedictine fought back in the bottom of the sixth, leading off with a single, but CUC would get two quick outs. Unfortunately for CUC, two straight errors on ground balls sandwiched a walk and allowed the Eagles to tie the game at three going to the seventh.

Benedictine put the leadoff runner aboard in the seventh, and with two outs a single to left would end the Cougars' season

The Cougars finished the year with a school-record best 25-15 in 2016. CUC will be graduating three seniors -  Allie Bochat (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South), Johnson, and Salata. Thank you to all Cougar fans for all the support in 2016, and we look for continued success in 2017!