River Forest, Ill. – After playing the first 12 games of the season away from campus, the Concordia University Chicago Softball team finally got to take the field at home today. They would take on the Carthage College Lady Reds for their home opener. CUC took game one 5-4 behind two fourth inning runs. Carthage answered by swinging the bats late in game two, downing CUC by a final score of 7-3.
 
In game one, CUC got things going right away. Stefanie D'Anna reached on a leadoff walk and quickly stole second and third. One out later, Melissa Balkema drew a walk, and D'Anna was able to score on a wild pitch. One out later with runners on first and third, a throwing error allowed Balkema to score and kept runners at the corners. The Cougars scored the final run of the inning on a Kristen Landon single through the left side, making it 3-0 CUC.
 
Carthage was able to answer back in the second. A walk and an error put the first two runners on in the inning. Brooke Sefcik then tied the game when she launched the first pitch over the center field wall to tie the game at three. The Lady Reds then added a fourth run in the top of the fourth. With two outs a single up the middle kept the inning alive. A double to left center then brought home the go-ahead run at the time.
 
The Cougars were able to answer in the bottom half. Sydney Getz led off the inning with a double to left field. An error on a sac bunt allowed CUC to have runners at the corners with no outs. A ground out brought home the tying run, and advanced Landon to second. Elizabeth Foxley then reached on a bunt single, which put runners at the corners once again. The go-ahead run came to the plate when Foxley stole second and the throw got away which allowed Landon to score.
 
Marita Van Dyke picked up her sixth win of the season inside the circle for CUC. The junior allowed eight hits and three earned runs while striking out four. Landon led the Cougars offensively, going 1-2 and driving in one.
 
In game two, a pitcher's duel took control over the first four innings. Karlee Knight was impressive through four innings of work along with Naomi Alonzo for Carthage. The two allowed just three hits through the first four innings. Unfortunately for CUC, Carthage was able to break through in the fifth.
 
The Lady Reds did all their damage with two outs in the inning. With a runner on first and two away, a single to center plated the first run. A double and a wild pitch helped to plate three more runs in the inning to take a 4-0 lead. Carthage then added three more in the sixth on three hits and an error to push the lead to 7-0.
 
CUC tried to mount a comeback attempt, scoring two runs in the sixth. With one out Kate Roberts drew a full count walk. Balkema then took a first pitch and launched it deep over the center field wall to cut the Carthage lead to 7-2. CUC added another run in the seventh, when Yasmine Fox singled to left center, scoring Shaina Phillips.
 
Knight worked five innings inside the circle, not allowing a run till the fifth. In total, Knight allowed four runs on six hits. Julianne Nation then worked two innings of relief, allowing no earned runs on three hits.
 
The Cougars (9-5) will return to action on Friday morning when they host the University of Wisconsin Stout in a single game. First pitch is set for 9:00am from River Forest.