March 10, 2017- The Florida trip is always a learning experience for the Concordia University Chicago Cougars. This week CUC faced some stellar competition and the final day was no different. The Cougars bats came alive early in game one, including for triples for the team in the game, leading to an 11-0 win over the College of Saint Elizabeth. Game two was another tough test for CUC. The bats couldn't get rolling in game two, and Pittsburgh at Greensburg was able to add important insurance runs taking down CUC 7-2.
 
In game one, the bats woke up early, scoring in four of the teams five at-bats. CUC started by scoring two runs in the top of the first. With one out Allison Kruk was hit by a 1-2 pitch. A single by Melissa Balkema and a wild pitch put runners quickly in scoring position. Sydney Getz stepped to the plate and lifted a fly ball to right that allowed both runners to tag, which scored Kruk. After a Michele Alexander walk, CUC executed a perfect double steal that brought Balkema home to make it 2-0.
 
CUC continued build the lead in the second. Two Eagles errors started the inning, allowing Katie Sullivan to score. Stefanie D'Anna reached on an infield single to score Courtney Pepper for the second run of the inning. A single by Kruk on a perfectly placed bunt put more runners on base. The big hits were delivered off of the bats of Alexander and Taylor Kulaszewicz who ripped back to back triples scoring three total runs making it 8-0 CUC.
 
The Cougars built on the lead in both the third and fifth innings. CUC scored one in the third when a throwing error by the Eagles shortstop brought Kristen Landon in to score. The final two Cougar runs came in the fifth. The first coming off of the bat of Kruk, with the teams fourth triple of the game. The was then brought in by Balkema on a 2-1 single to right, making it 11-0 Cougars.
 
 Pepper picked up her first win of the season after working four innings of shutout ball. She spread out five hits, while striking out five. Julianne Nation finished off the game for CUC with a solid inning of relief.
 
In game two, the first inning would plague the Cougars once again. The Bobcats of Pitt-Greensburg plated two runs in the first, and then built on their lead with two runs in the second. The Cougars fought back with two unearned runs when Sullivan roped a single down the leftfield line scoring both Marita Van Dyke and Alexander. The Bobcats picked up important insurance runs in both the fourth and sixth innings, leading to the 7-4 final score.
 
"This week is exactly what we wanted", said Head Coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher. "We were challenged in every game. We learned how to grind out wins throughout the week. Our pitching gave us a chance to win all week long. Now we get to rest up and get back to working on the details that are going to get us to the level that we want to be on."
 
The Cougars (5-5) will travel home tonight and will have 12 days off before playing their first games in the Midwest on March 22 when they travel to take on North Park University.