April 2, 2017- Looking to build off a dramatic game two win over Benedictine yesterday, the Concordia-Chicago Cougar softball team took to the field today in another tough Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matchup, this time with the Aurora Spartans. CUC got things going in game one with a big eight run inning, but it would not hold up over the final three innings with the Spartans securing the 9-8 win in the seventh. Aurora then rode the momentum, spoiling the day taking game two 9-1.
 
In game one, the two teams remained scoreless until the top of the fourth when CUC broke it open with eight runs in the top half. Allison Kruk led things off, driving a 1-1 pitch back up the middle. After an error and two outs later, Taylor Kulaszewicz drew a walk to load the bases. Megan Strong then brought the first runs home with a single to left center. This set the table for the top of the order, where Melissa Balkema doubled down the right field line to push the lead to three. Two straight walks forced the fourth run home, keeping the bases loaded with two out. An error by the right fielder in Kruk's second at bat in the inning brought three runners home to score. The final run then came off of the bat of Marita Van Dyke with a single to right center, making it 8-0 CUC.
 
The powerful bats of Aurora through fought back over the next three innings. They scored one in the fifth, before tying the game in the sixth with seven runs on eight hits. The Cougars had an opportunity to reclaim the lead in the top half of the seventh with runners on second and third, but two straight strikeouts ended the CUC threat. The Spartans then were able to bring the winning run in to score on a single up the middle.
 
In game two, it was all Aurora, using their momentum from game one to catapult themselves out to a four-run lead after two. CUC's lone run came from the bat Strong, bringing home Kruk in the fourth. Aurora then put things out of reach with five more runs over the fourth and fifth innings, securing the game two win over the Cougars.
 
The Cougars (10-9, 1-3 NACC) will continue their ten-game road trip on Thursday when they head to Kenosha, Wisconsin to take on Carthage College in a non-conference double header. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm.