River Forest, Ill. – After dropping two tough contests yesterday, the Concordia University Chicago Softball team took to the field for the third straight day today. Their opposition would be the Edgewood College Eagles. The Cougars came ready to play, scoring first in both contests. They then were able to add on key insurance runs late, leading to the sweep of the day by scores of 8-3 and 10-3. Allison Kruk was the highlight of the day, going a perfect 9-9 at the plate and scoring five runs.
 
In game one, the Cougars got the scoring going in the second inning. With one out, Allison Kruk got things going with a single through the left side. An error on the following batter allowed Kruk to score and put a runner back into scoring position. After a sac bunt and a walk put runners at the corners, Melissa Balkema ripped a double of the wall in left center, making it 3-0 CUC.
 
The Eagles were able to pull back within one in the third, scoring two runs on four hits and one Cougar error. A great throw by Balkema from left field was able to preserve the Cougar lead and cut down the potential tying run at the plate.
 
CUC added key insurance runs in the fifth. Stefanie D'Anna led off the inning with an infield single, and then quickly stole second. She then moved to third on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, Shania Phillps got the offense moving again with a single to right. Kruk followed with a single of her own. Kristen Landon then brought both home on a slicing triple to right field. Taylor Kulaszewicz then made it 7-2 CUC by scoring Landon on a single up the middle.
 
The Eagles got a single run back in the bottom of the sixth on back-to-back doubles. CUC had an answer to that in the seventh when Sydney Getz launched her fifth homerun of the week well out of the ballpark in left.
 
Marita Van Dyke picked up her 11^th win of the season inside the circle. She scattered eight hits, allowing just two earned runs while striking out eight. Kruk paced the Cougar offense, going a perfect 4-4 in the game, scoring two runs.
 
In game two, CUC built on their momentum from game one in their opening at-bats. After the first two batters were retired, Kruk singled to right. An error and a walk loaded the bases for Katie Sullivan who shot a single through the right side to plate two. Landon followed with a single up the middle to make it 3-0 CUC.
 
Edgewood was again able to pull back within 3-2, scoring single runs in the bottom of the first and third innings.
 
The score remained 3-2 until the fifth. A Landon double to left on a 2-1 pitch started the inning for CUC. Two outs later, Balkema launched her fifth homerun of the season over the left field wall to push the lead back to three runs.
 
CUC added another insurance run in the sixth on a sac fly by Phillips. The Cougars then broke the game wide open in the seventh. Nia DeGeorge got things started by launching her first career homerun over the center field wall. With two on and two out Kruk ripped off her ninth hit of the day, a double to left center which scored Balkema. Getz then singled to plate Kruk and a Sullivan single made it 10-3 Cougars.
 
Julianne Nation picked up her fifth win of the season inside the circle. The senior worked four and a third innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Marita Van Dyke closed the game, working the final two and two thirds innings, while not allowing a hit. It was Kruk again who led the CUC offense, going 5-5 in game two, and scoring three times.
 
The Cougars (16-9; 7-3 NACC) will finish off their tough four game stretch when they host Rockford University tomorrow. It will also be senior day for the Cougars. First pitch is set for 12:00pm.