Lisle, Ill. – Getting to NACC play once again, the Concordia Chicago Softball team hit the road for the first of three straight road series today beginning at Benedictine. Looking to climb the NACC standings, the Cougars came away with two big wins over the Eagles today. CUC opened the day with a low scoring 2-1 win in game one. The Cougars then completed the sweep of the Eagles with a 5-2 win in game two.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Sydney Paulauskis-Lauher and Melissa Balkema each had three hits on the day.
• Kacey Powers hit the big two run homer on the day.
• Marita Van Dyke and Holly Bathje combined to allow just three earned runs inside the circle.
• This was the first time that CUC has swept Benedictine in a weekend series.
• Van Dyke led the team with three RBI's.  

That feeling when you SWEEP Benedictine for the first time!!!!! CUC softball is now 12-6 overall and 4-2 in the NACC. pic.twitter.com/qCgMX5k15b

— CUC Athletics (@CUChicagoSports) April 6, 2019

GAME ONE: W, 2-1
After both pitches put up scoreless first innings, CUC broke through with two runs in the second. With one out Kristen Landon reached on an error. Powers then followed by driving an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence for her second homer of the season.
 
That would be all the scoring CUC would need in the game. Van Dyke allowed just one run that came in the bottom of the fourth. A throw to the plate to catch the runner trying to tag by Shania Phillips kept the tying run from scoring in the inning.
 
Van Dyke again was able to work out of a jam in the seventh. She was able to work around a leadoff double in the inning by getting a popup in foul territory with one out and the tying run on third and a groundout to Landon to preserve the 2-1 win.

GAME TWO: W, 5-2
Benedictine struck first in game two. They were able to plate the games initial run on two hits in the first.
 
CUC was able to tie the game in the third. With two outs a Balkema single got things started. An error then put runners at the corners and Van Dyke then tied the game with a single through the left side.
 
The Cougars took the lead for good in the fifth. A walk and  Balkema single put two on to open the inning. A sac bunt then put two in scoring position with just one out. It was Van Dyke who delivered once again with a single to center which scored both Abbey Sloan and Balkema. CUC added one more in the inning when a throwing error by the Eagles third baseman allowed Van Dyke to score and extend the CUC lead to 4-1.
 
The Cougars added on one more insurance run in the sixth. With two outs Holly Bathje singled through the right side. She then raced around to score when Balkema doubled to left center to make it 5-1 CUC.
 
Bathje then secured the sweep for CUC by fighting through a tough seventh inning to secure the 5-2 game two win.
 
The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they head to Aurora University for more NACC action. Opening pitch is set for 12:00pm.