LEESBURG, Fla. -- With a chip on their shoulder, the Concordia-Chicago softball team entered its final two games of spring break looking to pick up two more wins on the year. After battling the Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan in a one-run game, the Cougars turned around and defeated a lights-out Alfred University team in a thrilling, bottom of the seventh walk off win, which would ultimately be the
final game of the 2020 season.
Inside the Box Scores:
- Seniors Kristen Landon and Taylor Kulaszewicz led the charge all day long, as the duo combined for three hits and four runs on the day. Kulaszewicz scored the go-ahead run during game one against the Battling Bishops, while Landon delivered the sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh that moved Cougar runners into scoring position.
- Freshman Becky Pieroni delivered two hits and four RBI's today, including the two-out, three-run home run that won it for CUC against the Saxons in game two.
- Holly Bathje picked up her third win of the season in the win over Alfred, as the sophomore struck out four batters through seven complete innings of work.
- As a team, the Cougars had a season-high five RBI's in game one against Ohio Wesleyan.
- Alfred's pitcher, Jessica Wilcox, threw 13 strike outs against CUC, though the Cougars were ultimately the ones to get the job done.
Game One vs. Ohio Wesleyan - L, 6-5
- Kate Roberts got the start in game one and worked through two complete innings of scoreless work before the Battling Bishops found their way offensively.
- After Ohio Wesleyan put up a run in the top of the third, the Cougars got right to work and responded with two runs of their own thanks to a two-run single from rookie Nikita Robbins.
- With a 2-1 lead, CUC returned to the infield as the Bishops scored three more runs over the course of the next two innings.
- Down 4-2, in the bottom of the fifth, Kulaszewicz led off the inning, reaching second on a throwing error before Landon delivered a single down the left field line that easily scored her classmate. Later, Pieroni delivered a sac fly to left field that also scored Landon and made it a 4-4 game.
- The next inning, Kulaszewicz would send a hit up the middle that scored another Cougar runner and plated the go ahead run as the game headed into the seventh inning.
- Unfortunately, the Bishops were able to execute offensively and string together enough hits to take the game one win, 6-5.
Game Two vs. Alfred University - W, 4-1
- The Cougars turned around in game two looking for vengeance.
- The Saxons quickly took control of the game with a first inning, two-out home run over the center field wall.
- After that, Alfred's Wilcox went to work in the circle and struck out eight Cougars before CUC made its way to the base paths.
- Finally, in the bottom of the fourth, freshman Alexis Hilgert sent a double screaming into left field, while sophomore Kacey Powers followed suit with a streaking single to left that easily scored Hilgert and tied up the game.
- From there, Bathje held the game's momentum as she retired the side in order in both the fifth and sixth innings to keep CUC's chances alive.
- In the seventh, the Saxons threatened to take the game away as they had runners on first and second with just one out. A single to right field would send the runner from second base racing for home, but Sydney Paulauskis-Lauher sent a perfect throw to the plate for Kulaszewicz to block the base and grab the final out of the inning.
- With the game tied, and headed to the bottom of the seventh, CUC had a chance to walk off what would ultimately be their last game of the 2020 season.
- Sydney Sterrett and Kulaszewicz each earned walks to put runners on first and second. With two outs and two strikes on Pieroni, she made the final pitch of her freshman year worthwhile, as she sent a missile into orbit for a three-run home run that would secure Concordia's final game of the year as a 4-1 walk off victory.
