Clermont, Fla. -- Opening up day two in the sunshine state, the Concordia University Chicago softball team split the day after a tough nine inning loss to Marywood University 8-7 followed by a monstrous 15-1 win over SUNY Potsdam.
 
GAME ONE
In the opening inning of the game the Cougars struggled to get on base, closing the inning just three batters in. With the Cougars on the defensive side, the Pacers jumped ahead 4-0 after grabbing one run early and a three run homer late in the inning. Struggling to get things going in the inning, freshman Ashley Shroll (Tampa, Fla.)stepped into the circle to close things out.
 
After going down early, the Cougars warmed up the bats and got to work. A single into left field from Annabella Archuletta (Pueblo, Colo.) was able to send Claire Urchell (Crown Point, Ind.) home, bringing the score to 4-1. In the top of the fourth, hits from Gina Westphal (Elmhurst, Ill.) Carole Ross (Whittier, Calif.), Urchell, and Archuletta were able to drive in another two runs. As the Cougars slowly closed the gap, a huge hit to right field from Nikita Robbins (Lafayette, Ind.) in the top of the sixth sent Archuletta home, tying the game at four.
 
Either team unable to score in the seventh inning sent the game into extra innings with the Cougars at bat. Becky Pieroni (Montgomery, Ill.) started the inning at second which allowed her to score early off an error, bringin the Cougars ahead 5-4. The Pacers matched the run, but quickly lost the momentum as two more runs from Archuletta and Robbins would put the Cougars up by two heading into the bottom of the ninth. With Shroll grabbing two early strikeouts, a huge hit for the Pacers would drive in three runs to close out the game. 
 
GAME TWO
With Kallie Tierney (Corona, Calif.) stepping into the circle for the first time this season, she closed the first half inning only four batters in. Stepping into batters box fresh off her major pitching game, Shroll slammed one down the right field line and sent two runners home to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. With her next at bat in the following inning, Shroll sent another one to right field for her second triple of the game bringing the score to 6-0. A straight shot to right center from Alexis Hilgert (Naperville, Ill.) sent Shroll home to close the inning 7-0.
 
Continuing to dominate, hits from Tierney, Tegan Oas (Shingle Springs, Calif.), and Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.) brought the Cougars to a massive 10-0. As the bats got hotter and hotter, more Cougars grabbed hits as the score slowly jumped to a 15-0 lead. Heading into the top of the fifth, the Bears managed to grab a run before a fly ball to right field ended the game in five mere innings. 
 
The Cougars take their off day tomorrow and pick back up on Wednesday 10:15 and 12:15 EST. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage