April 15, 2017- After two exciting rivalry games earlier in the week, the Concordia-Chicago Cougar Softball team looked to keep pace in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference playoff race when they welcomed Edgewood College to River Forest. The two games were played under beautiful 80 degree temperatures, but the wind was howling in from left field all day long. That didn't stop the Cougars' offensive attack though, putting up ten runs in each game, while also getting dominating pitching performances by Marita Van Dyke and Julianne Nation leading to the 10-1, 10-1 sweep.
 
"You cannot take a game in this conference for granted," said Head Coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher. "I thought our girls brought the same good energy that they had against Dominican. We put the ball in play today and were aggressive on the bases like we teach. It was a team effort from a lot of people in different positions, we will need that going forward through the stretch of our schedule."
 
 
In game one, the Cougars got the bats rolling early as they have in many of their victories this season. Melissa Balkema led off with a bunt single followed by a walk to Stefanie D'Anna. One out later, Allison Kruk brought both of them home with a single to left center. Later in the inning with Kruk on third and Van Dyke on first, Katie Sullivan delivered her first hit of the day, making it 3-0 CUC after one.
 
The Cougars continued to press on the gas into the second inning. A single by Sydney Getz and a Michele Alexander walk put runners on base for CUC. They stood on second and third with two outs when Kruk stepped up again, lining a 1-1 pitch into right field for RBI's three and four of the game, while giving CUC the 5-0 lead.
 
CUC broke the game open for good in the third with five runs. Megan Strong singled on a 1-1 pitch down the left field line to start the inning and promptly stole second. Sullivan then followed with a sharp single through the left side to put runners on the corners. Courtney Pepper then laid down a perfectly placed bunt that Edgewood was unable to get an out anywhere as Strong came across to score. With the bases loaded a walk and two groundouts allowed three more runners to cross to push the lead to 9-0, and an Edgewood error allowed the fifth run of the inning to cross making it 10-0 Cougars.
 
Those runs would be more than enough for Van Dyke inside the circle. She picked up her ninth win of the season scattering three Edgewood hits in the game, allowing just one earned run while striking out six. Sullivan and Kruk led CUC at the plate with Sullivan going a perfect 3-3 while Kruk drove in five.
 
In game two, the Cougars' base running proved to be the difference, as the aggressive style paid off in a big way in many situations. The Cougars used that aggressiveness in the first to score two runs without a hit. Balkema drew a walk and was standing on second base when D'Anna drew a five-pitch walk. Balkema stole third on the ball four call. D'Anna was hustling the whole way and caught the Eagles napping hustling all the way to second. The throw to try and get D'Anna flew into right field allowing Balkema to score. The second run came with D'Anna on third and Kruk on first. Head coach O'Malley-Fisher put on a double steal that the Cougars executed to perfection, making it 2-0 CUC.
 
CUC added on with five in the third. A leadoff walk and a double to left center by D'Anna put runners on second and third to begin the inning. A walk loaded the bases for Van Dyke. She ripped a sinking line drive that was snagged by the Edgewood centerfielder, but all the runners were able to tag and advance. Strong brought home another Cougar run with another fantastic bunt on a safety squeeze. Emily Owens, Sullivan and Elizabeth Foxley all contributed swings that resulted in Cougar runs, extending the lead to seven.
 
The Cougars put the final touches on the day with three more runs in the fourth. Kristen Landon and Sullivan drove in runs for CUC in the inning making it 10-1 Cougars for the game two final.
 
Nation worked a near flawless game inside the circle for CUC. She allowed just one hit in the top of the fifth. She picked up her fourth win of the season while striking out four. The lone run for Edgewood was unearned in the fourth. Sullivan kept the hot bat from game one, going a perfect 2-2 in game two while driving in two.
 
The Cougars (16-12, 6-6 NACC) will enjoy the Easter holiday Sunday before they take to the field again on Monday when they travel to Rockford. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm