River Forest, Illinois- As far as intensity, today was near the top of the charts in that category. As the 2017 begins to wind down, the playoff hunt heated up today as the Concordia-Chicago Cougars welcomed the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders to River Forest. Game one was a marathon 12 inning affair that MSOE was able to just pull out over CUC with a 12^th inning homerun. The Cougars then salvaged the split by ripping off 13 hits in five innings in game two. CUC still is in the heart of the playoff chase now with two game to go following today's action.
 
In game one, the two teams used solid pitching performances to lead to a marathon two hour and fifty minute first game. It all started with MSOE bringing a leadoff walk around to score in the first. CUC answered with an RBI single by Michele Alexander down the right field line that scored Stefanie D'Anna who singled earlier in the inning.
 
MSOE took the lead back with a solo homerun in the third by Emma Megal. CUC tied it at two when Melissa Balkema singled through the left side scoring Kristen Landon who was pinch running for Katie Sullivan after she drew a one out walk. Both teams continued to have chances but the pitching by Marita Van Dyke and Shannon Curtis continued to leave runners aboard.
 
The Cougars grabbed their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Kulaszewicz led off the inning driving an 0-0 pitch back up the middle. Balkema followed by lifting a full count pitch high and deep over the centerfield wall to give CUC the 4-2 lead, her sixth homerun of the year. The Cougars weren't done there in the inning though, D'Anna followed the homerun with a single, and Van Dyke was hit by an 0-2 pitch. The final run of the inning came across when Allison Kruk laid down a bunt. She was able to race to first as the throw from the pitcher ended up in right field. D'Anna was hustling the whole way around from second to score, making it 5-2 CUC.
 
Unfortunately for the Cougars, MSOE answered with three runs in the top of the seventh on two hits to force extra innings. In extras, the pitching from Curtis and Julianne Nation kept both offenses looking for answers all the way into the 12^th. One bad pitch was all it took for Emily Snow to lift a 1-0 pitch over the centerfield wall to give MSOE just enough to squeak out the 6-5 win over CUC in 12 innings.
 
In game two, the Cougars did not hang their heads about the heartbreaking loss just thirty minutes prior. After MSOE brought a run across to score in the top half, the Cougars answered back with two in the bottom. Balkema led off with a no doubt line drive shot to tie the game at one on her seventh long ball of the season. The Cougars added on a second run on an RBI on a single up the middle by Alexander as Kruk raced around to score just in before the throw from center field.
 
From there the Cougars made sure there was no doubt about what the outcome was going to be in game two. Back-to-back bunt singles by Balkema and D'Anna got things started with one out. Kruk then made it 3-1 CUC on a double to center field, scoring Balkema. After a pitching change for MSOE with two away, a snap throw to third trying to get D'Anna got away into left field allowing her to score. Then with Alexander on second and Landon on first, Sydney Getz singled up the middle, making it 6-1 CUC as Alexander crossed home plate.
 
CUC tacked on three more in the third. Megan Strong started things off with a bunt single. With one out D'Anna reached on an infield single and promptly stole second to put runners on second and third for Kruk. Kruk looped a single into right field scoring Strong. The final two runs of the inning scored when Alexander singled to left field. Both D'Anna and Kruk scored on the play, pushing the lead to 9-1.
 
To put the cherry on top the Cougars put four more on the board in the fourth. Getz led off with a moonshot homerun to push the lead to 10-1. Two walks later Balkema doubled to left field scoring Kulaszewicz. Strong was able to score on a groundout, and a throwing error by MSOE brought Balkema to score the final run of the day, as the Cougar lead ballooned to 13-1.
 
Not to go unnoticed, Courtney Pepper was fanstastic in game two for CUC. Pepper picked up her sixth win of the season, working the complete game for CUC allowing just three hits while picking up a strikeout.
 
The Cougars (23-15, 12-8 NACC) now will get ready for the final series of the 2017 regular season. They are set to take on Concordia-Wisconsin with the playoffs on the line. First pitch is set for 11:00am from River Forest.