The Concordia University Chicago baseball team (10-14) won a thriller at home on Wednesday afternoon over Concordia University Wisconsin (13-10) by a final score of 6-5 thanks to a strong starting performance from senior Cade Laudenschlager (Cave Creek, Ill.) and a clutch walk-off knock from junior Matthew Uba (Darien, Ill.).

It was a low scoring game for much of the afternoon, with the Falcons scoring a run in the third inning and maintaining the 1-0 lead through five. 

Junior Alex Kinert (Cave Creek, Ariz.) took one for the team leading off the sixth inning to put the Cougars lead-off hitter on base for the third inning in a row. Unlike the previous two, however, this one came around to score. 

A bunt single from junior Michael Zavoli (Lake Barrington, Ill.) put the Cougars in business with two on and one out. Sophomore Gary Maynard (Oswego, Ill.) followed with a single to right that scored Kinert and evened things at one. A balk then brought Zavoli home to give CUC their first lead of the day. 

The scoring didn't stop there, as an unearned run would score on a hit to third by sophomore Bryce Vincent (Algonquin, Ill.) before another scored on the second balk call of the inning to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead. 

The lead appeared safe even as the Falcons chipped away with one run in the eighth to cut the lead to 4-2. However, a ninth inning explosion of offense from the CUW bats that had been quiet all day, including a two-run home run, put them ahead 5-4. 

True to form, the Cougars were resilient and quickly got to rallying in the ninth. Identical to the sixth, Kinert was hit by a pitch to kick things off. Junior Howie Hatton (North Riverside, Ill.) followed with an infield single before Zavoli walked to load the bases. 

Maynard tied the game with a sac-fly before senior Brody Mariotti (Yorktown, Ind.) was hit by a pitch to again load the bases. The opportunity was there for Uba, who ripped a shot down the line into the left field corner to win the game for the Cougars. 

It was the best outing of the season for Laudenschlager, who went a career-long 7.0 innings in the win. The senior allowed just one earned on six hits while striking out five and walking just two. 

The team will next be in action on Saturday when they welcome Benedictine University to the Thunderdome for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., and a stream will be available on the CUC Athletics Youtube channel.