Aurora, Ill. – After sweeping Benedictine for the first time in school history on Saturday, the Concordia University Chicago Softball team hit the road tonight to take on the Aurora University Spartans in a rescheduled double header from yesterday. Offense was at a premium, but it was Aurora who was able to plate enough runs to sweep CUC by scores of 3-2 and 6-3.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Melissa Balkema led the offense with two hits and three runs scored. She also launched a solo homer in game two.
- Marita Van Dyke and Sydney Sterrett each drove in two on the day.
- Only four of the nine runs against CUC pitching were earned because of four errors between the two games.
GAME ONE: L, 2-3
The Cougars plated their only runs of the day in the opening at bat. Balkema opened the inning with a walk and
Abbey Sloan reached on a bunt single. With runners on second and third an error on the Aurora left fielder allowed two runs to score making it 2-0 CUC.
Aurora got a single run back in the bottom of the first. The Spartans loaded the bases with no one out and used a sac fly to plate their first run. Van Dyke avoided any more damage in the inning by getting a strikeout and a groundout.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth. Aurora plated the tying run on three hits. The Spartans then plated the go-ahead run in the sixth on a sac fly to center.
CUC was able to get the tying run to third in the seventh, but were unable to get the big hit, falling by a 3-2 score.
GAME TWO: L, 3-6
The Cougars looked to snag momentum early in game two, scoring twice in the first. Two errors put runners at second and third to open the inning. Two strikeouts brought Sterrett to the plate. She then singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch to make it 2-0 Cougars.
CUC made it 3-0 in the second. With one out Balkema launched her fifth home of the season over the left field wall.
Aurora made it 3-1 in the third. With two outs three straight hits allowed a run to come around and score. The Spartans then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth. They were able to plate five runs on four hits, including an error to take a 6-3 lead.
The Cougars were able to bring the tying run to the plate in the sixth with no outs but two fly outs and a strikeout ended the threat. CUC was unable to get anything going in the seventh, falling by a 6-3 score.
CUC will be back in action Wednesday afternoon with two non-conference contests. CUC will head to Kenosha, Wisconsin to take on Carthage College. Opening pitch is set for 3:00pm.
