Kenosha, Wisconsin- The Concordia-Chicago Cougars took to the field for the final time in non-conference play before closing out the 2017 regular season this weekend. They faced a tough Carthage College Lady Reds team. Carthage was able to have their way in game one, getting great pitching leading to the 5-1 win. Game two it was the Cougars turn to get the bats rolling. Michele Alexander provided the final fireworks with a three-run moonshot in the sixth that proved to be the game winner as CUC powered through game two by a 9-6 score.
 
"Today was a good day for us to compete," remarked head coach Sarah O'Malley-Fisher. "We struggled a bit in game 1 but came back in game 2 against a fantastic Carthage Team. We got up and down and then up again and we finished. I am proud of their effort and look forward to this weekend and the competition we are going to face."
 
In game one, Carthage was able to push a run across right away in the first. They continued to add on throughout the game leading to a 5-0 lead going to the sixth. Melissa Balkema was one of two Cougars to get a hit in the contest against Carthage starter Katie Herron. Balkema lifted a 2-1 pitch to left field, that stayed fair by a just a few inches as it hit the foul pole. That was the only blemish against Herron who struck out nine, while allowing just two Cougar hits in route to the 5-1 win.
 
In game two, the Cougar bats got rolling once again. After Courtney Pepper sat down the Lady Reds in the first, CUC took the lead in the second. With one out Marita Van Dyke singled through the left side. One out later with Van Dyke on second Katie Sullivan singled on a 2-2 pitch to left field which allowed Van Dyke to hustle around to score. Carthage answered in their home finale by scoring four times in the bottom half of the second to reclaim the lead at 4-1.
 
CUC responded by scoring three in the fifth. With two outs and Emily Owens on second Stefanie D'Anna reached on an infield single. During the play, Owens was able to hustle around to score and D'Anna moved to second. Alexander pulled CUC back within one, shooting a 1-2 pitch to center field scoring D'Anna. Allison Kruk finished off the Cougar scoring in the inning with a triple to right center, tying the game at four. Unfortunately for CUC the Lady Reds answered a second time with two runs on two hits and one Cougar error to make it 6-4 Carthage heading to the sixth.
 
The Cougars continued to go punch for punch with Carthage by scoring again in the sixth. After two quick outs, Megan Strong, Taylor Kulaszewicz, and Balkema all singled. This plated one run and had runners on first and second. D'Anna then delivered with a double that fit perfectly through the left side. With the score tied, Balkema on third and D'Anna on second, Alexander blasted a tape measure shot over the outfield fence that pushed the Cougar lead to 9-6. The homerun was the first of the season for Alexander, and put the finishing swing on her four RBI effort in the game.
 
This was enough for Van Dyke who came in relief in the fifth. She worked around a jam in the sixth where the first two batters reached, and then sat the Lady Reds down in the seventh, putting the finishing touches on her 11^th win of the season.
 
The Cougars (22-14) now ready for the closing weekend of the regular season. They welcome MSOE to River Forest first on Friday for a pivotal NACC contest with first pitch set for 3:00pm.