River Forest, Ill. – After picking up a key NACC sweep of Alverno yesterday, the Cougars needed just one win to clinch their spot in the 2018 NACC playoffs next week. The Cougars did more than that today, picking up a dramatic sweep of Wisconsin Lutheran. The Cougars used a seventh inning rally in game one to tie the game at four, and the score remained the same until Melissa Balkema launched a walkoff homer over the center field wall to take game one 5-4. The Cougars then had to push through a late WLC charge, with Elizabeth Foxley drawing a bases loaded walk to secure game two 7-6.
 
In game one, the Cougars were able to strike first in the second inning. With Sydney Getz on second and two outs, a Taylor Kulasewicz single put runners at the corners. Shania Phillips was able to bring her home with a single to right.
 
Unfortunately for CUC, the Warriors were able to take advantage of three errors in the top of the third to load the bases, and Ellen Davis launched a grand slam to make it 4-1 WLC.
 
That score remained the same until the seventh inning. With one out, Sydney Sterrett was hit by a pitch to start the rally. A single by Balkema and a walk then loaded the bases. Marita Van Dyke nearly ended it, but a deep fly ball was caught at the wall for a sac fly. Down to their final strike, Get stepped up, driving a 1-2 pitch down the right field line, allowing the tying run to score.
 
Van Dyke and WLC starter Abby Mahsem continued to keep the score tied, working into the 11^th inning. That was when Balkema launched her 11^th homer of the season, a no-doubter to center field.
 
Van Dyke earned her 14^th win of the season inside the circle. She worked all 11 innings for CUC, allowing just four hits and no earned runs. Balkema led the offense with three hits, followed by Getz, Van Dyke and Kulaszewicz with two each.
 
In game two, the Cougars once again scored first. Balkema led off with a single, and came around to score on a double steal. With one on, Van Dyke launched her eighth homer of the season to right center to make it 3-0 CUC early.
 
WLC got one back in the top of the third. CUC answered with two in the fourth. Singles by Katie Sullivan and Foxley put two on. After a double play left just a single runner on, a double by D'Anna scored one, and a single Van Dyke made it 5-1 Cougars.
 
The Warriors did not go away quietly, working the game back to a 5-5 score in the top of the fifth. The Cougars were able to plate the go-ahead run in the sixth with a Van Dyke single to left. But once again WLC was able to tie it with a homer in the seventh.
 
CUC was able to walk it off again, this time in the seventh. After an Allison Kruk double led off the inning, a hit by pitch and a Sullivan single loaded the bases with one out for Foxley. She would work the full count walk for the 7-6 game two win.
 
Julianne Nation picked up her ninth win of the season inside the circle, working six and a third innings, allowing four runs while striking out three. In total, CUC had 15 hits as a team. D'Anna, Van Dyke and Kruk all finished with three hits each.
 
The Cougars (24-11; 15-5 NACC) will now ready for Marian University tomorrow to close out the 2018 regular season. Seeding is still to be decided for next week, with CUC still being able to finish anywhere from 2-4. First pitch is set for 12:00pm.