River Forest, Ill. – After a tough day yesterday against Benedictine, the Concordia University Chicago Softball team took to the field again today to continue their playoff push. They would take on the Lakeland University Muskies today, and the bats got rolling once again, belting out five homeruns in the two games, with three of those off of the bat of Sydney Getz. CUC used a Getz grand slam to help take game one 9-1. It then was a three homerun fifth inning in game two which guided the Cougars to a 7-2 win in game two.
 
After a quick top half of the first in game one worked by Marita Van Dyke, the Cougars got to work offense got things rolling. Melissa Balkema led things off with a single, advancing to second on an error. One out later an error allowed Balkema to score, and put a runner on for Getz. She belted her seventh homer of the season well deep to left to give CUC the early 3-0 lead.
 
Van Dyke allowed her lone run in the fourth. Two singles with an error allowed a run to score in the inning, while Van Dyke was able to escape a bases loaded jam with a groundout to third. The Cougars then answered with a crooked number in the bottom half. Three straight singles to begin the inning by Shania Phillips, Kristen Landon and Taylor Kulaszewicz plated one run and put runners at second and third. A walk then loaded the bases. With two outs, Van Dyke got hit on the arm with a a1-1 pitch to plate a second run while leaving the bases loaded for Getz. Getz wasted no time, taking the first pitch of the at bat deep to left for her second homer of the game, while pushing the Cougar lead to the final score of 9-1.
 
Van Dyke earned her 12^th win of the season inside the circle in game one, working all five innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits while striking out three. Getz paced the offense with a career high six RBI's on the two homeruns.
 
In game two, the Muskies were able to get out to a two run lead in the top of the first on a two out two run homer. The Cougars were able to get one back in the bottom half when Balkema was able to take advantage of two Lakeland errors.
 
The score remained the same until the fifth when the Cougars' bats got hot again. Balkema led off the inning taking a 1-1 pitch deep to left field for her ninth of the season, tying the score at two. One out later, Van Dyke was able to take a 1-1 pitch of her own deep over the left field fence to take the lead. Not to be outdone, Getz launched her third long ball of the game deep over the scoreboard in left to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.
 
After a quick top half of the sixth, the Cougars added on insurance runs in the bottom half. Pinch hitters Sydney Sterrett and Nia DeGeorge led off the inning with singles. After a sac bunt put two in scoring positon, a fielders choice along with a double steal and an error allowed the Cougars to extend their lead to 7-2.
 
Julianne Nation earned her seventh win of the season inside the circle in game two. She worked five innings, allowing just the two first inning runs on a total of five hits. Van Dyke earned her first save of the year, throwing the final two innings allowing just one hit. Van Dyke led the offense with two hits in the game including the homerun. Balkema led the team with three runs scored and two RBI's.
 
The Cougars (20-11; 11-5 NACC) will have an off day tomorrow before three straight days of softball action to close the regular season. The Cougars will open the closing weekend on the road on Friday at Alverno. First pitch is set for 3:00pm from Milwaukee.