CLERMONT, Fla. -- Still searching for their first win of the season, the Concordia-Chicago Cougars took to the diamond earlier today ready to play two games, first against Ursinus College and later versus Monmouth College.

The Cougars' offense struggled in game one, as CUC put together just three hits in the outing, two of which came in the bottom of the fifth. From the visitor's dugout, Ursinus collected nine hits for a 10-run, shutout performance. Looking to bounce back in game two, Concordia would fall behind again early, before settling the score and bouncing back for the 4-2 victory, powered behind a three-hit performance from freshman Becky Pieroni.

Game One vs. Ursinus - L, 10-0 (5 innings)

Inside the Box Score:

• Claire Urchell and Nikita Robbins each recorded hits against the Bears. 
• Kelly Tarasiewicz delivered a pinch-hit in the bottom of the fifth for her first of the season. 

How it Happened:

• Urinus took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, after back-to-back doubles from the Bears advanced runners around the bases. 
• In the second, the Bears' offense would explode into a five-hit frame and put up five more runs on the scoreboard to take a commanding 6-0 lead. 
• The Cougars finally settled into a groove in the third, as they blanked the Bears for the next two innings, but also struggled to get their own bats going as well.
• In the top of the fifth, Ursinus tacked on its final four runs of the day due to a few defensive miscues from CUC
• With one at bat to go, CUC stepped up to the plate ready to battle. Yazmin Fox led off the inning with a walk, followed by Tarasiewicz' single through the left side. Urchell would then shoot a ball back up the middle to load the bases with just one out. The rally would end there however, as Concordia would fail to put runs across and fall 10-0 to the Ursinus Bears. 

Game Two vs. Monmouth - W, 4-2

Inside the Box Score:

• Holly Bathje earned the win inside the circle today, her first of the season, after throwing a complete game and striking out three batters.
• CUC's starting lineup was extremely young in game two, as just one upperclassman appeared on the lineup card, followed by five sophomores and four freshmen.
• Pieroni led the offense, going 3-for-4 and scoring one run. 
• Urchell, Kacey Powers, Alexis Hilgert and Bathje all produced two hits in the win. 

How it Happened:

• Monmouth College would strike first, as CUC quickly fell behind 1-0 for the second straight game. The Scots threatened to make it a 2-0 lead in that same inning, but freshman Nikita Robbins threw out a runner at the plate, from center field, to shut down the opening inning of the game. 
• Hilgert kicked off Concordia's second-inning rally with a single up the middle, before a fielder's choice play placed Bathje on first with one out. Tarasiewicz then stepped up to the plate and dropped a sacrifice bunt that led to a Monmouth error, moving Bathje and Tarasiewicz to the corners. 
• From there, Powers blasted a line drive to center field that managed to score Bathje and tie up the game.
• After a scoreless third inning, the Cougars returned to the batter's box in the top of the fourth ready to work. Hilgert once again began the efforts, as she belted a hit down the left field line for a standup double. 
• Bathje continued the momentum with a single through the right side that moved Hilgert into scoring position, and set up Tarasiewicz to knock in the RBI single.
• Powers followed the hit parade with her second of the day to once again put CUC runners on first and second. 
• Nia DeGeorge would then come to the plate and send an opposite field single into right field, giving Tarasiewicz plenty of time to travel from second to home. With the five-hit inning, the Cougars had established a solid 3-1 lead.
• Monmouth would scratch one more run across the board to cut their deficit in half, and nearly tied the game before CUC turned a double-play with a line out to left field and a successful appeal play on a Scots baserunner leaving early, which would ultimately end the inning. 
• The Cougars had one more run left in the tank before the game's conclusion, as Pieroni singled to lead off the seventh and advanced to third on a beautiful sacrifice bunt from Urchell. Down the stretch, Bathje would single to right field allowing Pieroni to cross safely and secure CUC's 4-2 win heading into the final three outs of the game. 

Anddddd that's a W!

Holly Bathje goes the distance to hand CUC its first win of the season!!! pic.twitter.com/TYWN4WAfFp

— CUC Softball (@cucsoftball) March 9, 2020