April 22, 2018 - The recent stretch of weather-related cancellations and rescheduled games has produced some interesting and unpredictable results throughout the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. A case in point ws today's doubleheader between the host Concordia-Chicago Cougars and the crosstown rival Dominican University Stars. Although the matchup wa between two teams at opposite ends of the NACC standings, it was the Stars that rose up to surprise the Cougars by a 5-2 score in game one. The nightcap proved to be a tense affair as well, although the Cougars had enough left to hold on for a 6-4 win and achieve a split for the day.

The story of game one was Dominican's starting pitcher, senior Colin Janison. The right-hander pitched a tidy complete-game five-hitter, not reaching the 100-pitch mark until the ninth inning.

Dominican made the first inning a laborious one for CUC starter Cody Caballero as they put their first three runners aboard, via a walk and two hits. A sacrifice fly plated a run, but it also helped Caballero settle down as he was able to escape with just the one run. Concordia-Chicago then got the run back in the bottom of the inning as Bryan VanDuser walked, went to third on Joe Silva's double and scored on Andrew Massey's grounder to second base.

The Stars took control of the game in the fourth. An error amd an walk put two runners on base for Janison, who entered the game as DU's top hitter. Janison beat the Cougars' defensive shift, lining an outside pitch to the right field corner. By the time the ball was retrieved, Janison had a triple and the Stars had two runs cross the plate. Janison then scored on Mark Segovia's single past third base for a 4-1 lead.

The Cougars went down quietly in the fourth and fifth innings but saw their best chance to come back in the sixth. With two out, Mitch Wilson singled sharply. That brought up Kevin Coppin, who worked a 2-2 count before hitting a liner to left-center. Unfortunately for CUC, the left fielder was in good position to catch the ball before it got down, and the Cougars were turned away.

Dominican scored an insurance run in the seventh, but CUC tried to rally one more time in the eighth. With one out, Silva ripped his third hit of the game, a double to center. Silva moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Massey's sacrifice fly, but that was it for CUC in game one. Janison retired the next batter to end the eighth and then set down the side in order in the ninth to give the upstart Stars the victory.

Concordia-Chicago looked to come back and gain the split in game two as they sent freshman Cole Carman to the mound. The Cougars gave Carman a 2-0 lead in the second, loading the bases with no out. Freshman Brody Mariotti, getting his first start of the season, singled to the hole at short for the first run. One out later, Jose Mercado then lifted a pop-up to short left field. The shortstop made the grab, but Tyrell dashed for the plate and beat the throw as CUC took a 2-0 lead.

The Cougars looked to break the game open in the fifth as Silva led off with a single. Massey followed suit with a hit, and Wilson then hit a shot past the first baseman and to the right field corner. Silva scored and so did Massey, it appeared. However, Wilson's ball was ruled a ground-rule double with Massey being sent back to third. He wasn't there for long, though. Justin Rodriguez ripped a single to center for a 4-0 lead. and Wilson made it a five-run lead moments later when he scored on a wild pitch.

Just when it appeared the Cougars might have an easy win, the Stars rallied for four in the sixth to chase Carman.
Janison and Mike Piotrowski singled home runs, and Frankie Sessa's single plus an error by Silva scored two runs to make it a 5-4 game. However, Silva recovered from the error to gun down Sessa trying for second base, and Mike Formella then struck out the next batter to keep CUC in the lead.

The Cougars answered with a run promptly on singles by VanDuser, Massey and Wilson. That was all that Formella needed as he held down the Stars over the final three innings. The Stars brought the tying run to the plate with two out in the ninth, but Formella got Stars' leadoff hitter Joe Kukla to ground to shortstop for a force play at second, and the Cougars had their 20th win of the season in their pockets.

Carman earned his first collegiate decision with 5 1/3 effective innings, allowing three earned runs. Formella pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, notching save number seven on the year.

The Cougars (20-8, 7-3 NACC) return to action on Tuesday when they host Lakeland University in a makeup doubleheader, beginning at noon.