LISLE, Ill. – With a chance to clinch the NACC regular season title the No. 1 Concordia Chicago Cougar baseball team took to the field today in Lisle against the rival Benedictine Eagles. In two closely fought contests CUC was able to come out on top by scores of 6-4 and 7-6 to clinch their seventh straight title and secure the number one seed in the upcoming NACC Tournament.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
GAME ONE: W, 6-4
CUC got their offense going right away. With one out
Brayden Benavides doubled down the right field line. He was brought in one pitch later on a RBI single to center by
Bryan VanDuser.
The Cougars added another in the second. With two outs
Justin Rodriguez singled to right. Fauth followed by ripping a 2-0 pitch into right center for a run scoring triple.
CUC continued to add on in the third. With one out VanDuser singled through the left side. Mariotti then launched his 11
th homer of the year over the right field fence to make it 4-0 Cougars.
Benedictine fought back with single runs in both the third and fourth innings.
CUC got two back in the sixth. With Brandon on third and two outs Rodriguez doubled down the left field line to make it 5-2. He then came into score when Fauth singled to left to push the lead to 6-2.
The Eagles pulled within 6-4 in the seventh. They brought home two runs in the inning with just one hit. Tobin worked CUC out of the jam, stranding the bases loaded. Tobin then worked through the eighth and ninth innings for the Cougars to clinch their seventh straight NACC regular season title.
GAME TWO: W, 7-6
CUC got the offense going right away once again in game two. With two out VanDuser was hit by a pitch. He then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He came in to score on a Brandon single through the left side.
The Cougars made it 3-0 in the second.
Abelardo Paz Agudelo led things off with a double. Rodriguez followed with a double to left center to make it 2-0. He then came in to score one out later on a
Jose Mercado single to left.
Benedictine fought back with a crooked number in the fourth. They were able to plate four runs on just two hits.
Cade Laudenschlager was able to limit the damage, getting a ground out to leave the bases loaded.
CUC tied the game in the sixth. Brandon led things off with a single. He then advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. One out later a Paz sac fly tied the game at four.
Benedictine countered once again in the sixth. They plated two runs which were aided by two CUC errors in the inning to take a 6-4 lead.
CUC tied the game in the top of the eighth. With one out and one on a
Keegan Tyrell double to right put runners at second and third. With two outs an error by the Benedictine second basemen coupled with hustle by Tyrell from second allowed CUC to tie the game at six.
The Cougars took the lead for good in the ninth. Mercado led the inning off by ripping a first pitch into the left field corner for a double. A sac bunt put Mercado at third with one out. He then hustled home to score on an RBI groundout with the infield in to give CUC a 7-6 lead.
Litke worked the final inning for CUC to put the finishing touches on the sweep.
The Cougars will close the 2019 regular season on Monday night. They will travel to Rockford to take on the Regents. Opening pitch is set for 4:00pm.
