River Forest, Ill. – After a nine day layoff because of the weather, the Concordia University Chicago Softball team took to the field today to begin the race to the end of the season. Because of snow in Wisconsin, CUC would play host to Concordia University Wisconsin today, but bat as the visiting team. The Cougars came out of the gates ready to go in game one, launching three home runs in route to an 11-3 win. CUW answered in game two, scoring in the first three innings. They then hung on late for the 7-5 win over CUC. Cougar senior Stefanie D'Anna set the new mark for most hits in a career in game two of the double-header on a double to left center.
 
In game one, CUC got things going in their opening at bats. With one out D'Anna tripled to right field. She was quickly bought home on an RBI single by Marita Van Dyke. With two outs and two on in the inning, Taylor Kulaszewicz launched her first homer of the season over the left field wall to give CUC the early 4-0 lead.
 
After both teams went quickly through the second inning, the Cougars added on in a big way in the third. With one out, Sydney Getz launched her first homerun of the day on a deep fly to center field. Shania Phillips, Kulaszewicz followed with singles to keep the pressure on the Falcons. With two outs, Katie Sullivan singled up the middle to make it 6-0 Cougars. An error allowed another run to score, and Melissa Balkema then roped a double to left center. D'Anna kept the line moving with a double of her own to push the CUC lead to 10-0.
 
The Cougars added another run in the fourth when Getz launched her second homer of the day deep over the left field fence. CUW tried to rally, getting three runs on one hit in the fourth. Van Dyke did a good job to work around trouble to preserve the lead.

Van Dyke threw all five innings for CUC in game one, picking up her tenth win of the season. She allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out four. In total, CUC combined for 13 hits as a team. Balkema finished with a game high three hits, and Kulaszewicz finished with three RBI's.
 
In game two, the Falcons were able to work an early lead on CUC. They were able to score one run in the first on two hits and two runs on two hits in the second to take a 3-0 lead. CUC was able to manufacture a run in the third after Balkema led off the inning with a triple.

CUW answered with a run in the bottom half of the third and then added another in the bottom of the fourth. The Cougars were able to battle back in the fifth. Allison Kruk led off the inning with an infield single. One out later, D'Anna ripped her record setting 187^th hit to left center to put two in scoring position. With two on and two out, Getz launched her third homerun of the day to left center, an absolute no-doubter that pulled CUC back within 5-4. The Cougars were then able to tie the game in the sixth, when D'Anna singled up the middle, scoring Kruk.
 
Unfortunately for CUC, the Falcons were able to plate two runs on three hits and an error in the bottom half of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead, which proved to be enough to take game two.
 
Balkema, D'Anna and Getz all had two hits each in game two, with Getz driving in three. Julianne Nation got the start inside the circle for CUC, throwing three innings while allowing four runs. Karlee Knight worked the final three innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits.
 
The Cougars (14-7; 5-1 NACC) will continue their home stretch when they host Dominican University tomorrow evening. First pitch is set for 3:00pm.