Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 April 23, 2017 - As the baseball season heads into the home stretch, it is quality pitching that often determines how deep a run a team can make. If that's the case, the Concordia-Chicago Cougars had to feel good about today's doubleheader sweep against local rival Dominican University. Led by game one starting pitcher Adam Schmitt and game two starter Cody Caballero, the Cougars improved to 22-11 overall, 14-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, with 11-1 and 5-0 victories.

The first inning of game one gave no indication of how solid the pitching would be, as the Stars' first two batters reached on a walk and a single. The leadoff man eventually scored on a sacrifice fly for what would be the visitors' only score of the day. The Cougars got that run back quickly as Bryan VanDuser and Joe Silva singled, Silva's coming on a perfectly-executed hit-and-run. Moments later, Silva took off for second base. The Stars were able to run him down, but VanDuser scored on the play to tie the game.

The Cougars took control in the second inning. Jacob Frank, making his first start of the season at first base, led off with a gapper to right-center for a double. Kevin Garcia drew a walk after Frank moved to third on a wild pitch, and CUC continued its aggressiveness as the two executed a double steal for the go-ahead run. Kevin Garvey followed with a double, although Garcia had to hold up and could only advance to third. It did not matter as Garcia would score on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Klein. VanDuser then lined a rocket down the leftfield line, staying fair as it cleared the fence for a two-run homer and a 5-1 lead.

Frank continued to pummel the Stars' pitching over the next few innings. Following a leadoff walk to Kevin Coppin in the third, Frank smacked a double to almost the identical spot as his first two-bagger. Then, after Brent Spohr led off the fourth with his team-leading fifth homer of the season, Frank golfed a high fly to left that just cleared the fence. The sophomore;s first homer scored Mitch Wilson (single) ahead of him, and CUC led 9-1.  

While the Cougars were building this big lead, Schmitt was in cruise control after the first inning, at one point retiring eight batters in a row. Schmitt finished with a strong six-inning performance, allowing just the one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five. 

After Concordia scored its tenth run on a balk in the sixth, freshman Noah Dressler came on to pitch a perfect seventh. The Cougars then ended the game in the bottom of the inning with two on and two out. Fittingly, it was Frank that ended the game as his grounder to third took a strange hop and bounced past the third baseman. Coppin came around to score as the Cougars walked off with the 11-1 win.

In game two, Caballero improved to 4-2 on the season with a scoreless seven innings. The southpaw allowed just four hits and two walks while fanning four. Caballero also let his defense work for him as they turned two double plays.

The Cougars had a tougher battle in game two, owing to a strong performance by Dominican's starting pitcher, Colin Janison. The game was scoreless in the third when the Cougars caught a break to get on the board. With Klein on second and two out, Van Duser skied a pop-up in the infield. However, the DU second baseman misplayed it, owing to a combination of sun amd wind. and the ball fell to the ground as Klein scored. Silva was next, and he singled to left to score VanDuser, who had reached second on the error, and the Cougars had a 2-0 lead.

Small ball led to CUC's third run in the sixth as Doug Matthews singled and stole second. Garcia's sacrifice moved Matthews to third, and the Cougars then went squeeze as Klein bunted. The pitcher's only play was at first as Matthews crossed the plate.

After Alex Meyers pitched a scoreless eighth, the Cougars added insurance in the eighth, Contrary to the sixth inning, CUC relied on extra-base power this time. VanDuser hit the first pitch of the inning to the gap in right-center and was immediately eyeing third base. His hustle beat the relay for the leadoff triple. One out later, Spohr doubled to left-center for his fifth two-bagger of the weekend. Moments later, Wilson doubled to the rightfield corner, scoring pinch-runner Garvey for the final run.

Dominican made the ninth inning interesting as they loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of singles and a walk. The call to the bullpen went to Mike Formella, who needed just three pitches to fan pinch-hitter Austin Michals and earn his fourth save.

With the wins, the Cougars maintained a two-game lead on second-place Concordia Wisconsin. The team also had the privilege of clinching the first-ever River Forest Rivalry Cup sponsored by Northwestern Mutual as Concordia won by a point total of 60 to 50.

The Cougars will now prepare for Saturday's visit from Benedictine University. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.