PLYMOUTH, Wis. --- Playing their second doubleheader in as many days, the Concordia University Chicago softball team took on the Lakeland University Muskies on Thursday afternoon. The Cougars jumped out to early leads in both contests but were only able to come up with the split, dropping game one 6-2 before winning game two 6-3.

GAME ONE

CUC got the game started quickly in the top of the first. Sydney Sterrett led off the game with a triple to left field. Tegan Oas then got hit by a pitch to put two on. After Oas stole second, Annabella Archuletta drove a single to left, scoring two. 

Cougars strike first! Archuletta with the two RBI single to left! 2-0 CUC in the first. pic.twitter.com/ZsNNK82tMv

— CUC Softball (@cucsoftball) April 28, 2022

Lakeland answered back in the bottom half of the first, scoring five runs on four hits. The Muskies added on another run in the bottom of the second on two hits. 

Sydney Paulauskis-Lauher was the lone Cougar to have a multi-hit game. Kate Roberts worked five innings of relief, allowing just one run on four hits. 

GAME TWO
Lakeland grabbed momentum first by plating a run in the bottom of the first. However, the Cougars had the answer in the top of the second. With one out and runners on the corners, Nia DeGeorge singled to right, scoring Becky Pieroni. Three straight singles followed by Holly Bathje, Gina Westphal, and Sterrett to plate three runs, extending the CUC lead to 4-1. 

CUC added on an insurance run in the top of the fourth. Westphal singled to left to open the inning. Two outs later with two on Pieroni singled up the middle scoring Westphal which extended the CUC lead to 5-1. The Cougars added on one final insurance run in the top of the sixth. Westphal and Sterrett singled to open the inning. After a sac bunt, an RBI ground out made it 6-1 Cougars.

The Muskies tried to rally, plating two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Bathje was able to escape trouble with a strikeout.

Bathje picked up her sixth win of the year inside the circle, throwing a complete game, allowing just one earned run on six hits. Westphal led the offense with three hits and two RBIs in the contest. Pieroni and Sterrett both had multi-hit efforts. 

That's a Cougar WINNER!!! A four run second inning helps propel CUC to a 6-3 win over Lakeland in game two. pic.twitter.com/8lOvImDn9d

— CUC Softball (@cucsoftball) April 28, 2022

The Cougars will now ready to hit the road on Saturday afternoon. CUC will take the field in Lisle, Ill. at noon against the Benedictine University Eagles. Links to coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.