DANVILLE, KY. – In their last series before kicking off conference play, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars took the trek down to Kentucky to take on the Colonels in a three game series.
Game One
Inside the Box
- Westin Stutzman (Goshen, Ind.) threw 4.1 innings while allowing seven runs and securing five strikeouts.
- Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the Cougars's offense while going three-for-four at the plate and bringing in two RBI's.
- Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.) and Christian Jacob (Scottsdale, Ariz.) both went three-for-five at the plate while Jacob picked up one RBI and one stolen base.
- Tyler Krater (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Kasik each homered in the contest while bringing in three and four RBIs, respectively.
The Cougars came out swinging as they picked up their first five runs in the top of the first inning. Leading things off for the Cougars, Jacob and Dorsch both dropped balls in left field which put Jacob in scoring position with
Julio Cajigas (Romeoville, Ill.) at the plate. A double out to center from Cajigas would send Jacob across the plate for the first run of the day. With Cajigas and Dorsch on base, a single to left field from Kasik would advance everyone and secure the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
A double to the left side from Krater would send another run in while back-to-back RBIs from
Caleb Anderson (Plainfield, Ill.) and
Carter Gledhill (Arlington Heights, Ill.) would give the Cougars their five run lead.
With the Colonels ready to fight back, they were able to pick up three runs in the bottom of the first – an early indication of the high-scoring game that would be ahead. Retaliating back, a solo homerun from Kasik would extend the Cougars lead by three in the top of the third inning. With Stutzman still working on the bump, a strikeout and a pickoff at first would end the inning and keep the Cougars ahead.
Having a big day at the plate, Jacob found his second hit of the day on a double to left field that put him in scoring position for a sacrifice fly from Kasik that would edge the Cougars even further ahead. A two-run homerun from Krater would extend the Cougar lead once again to a comfortable four-run lead.
For the second consecutive inning, the Cougars would put up three runs as
Jaime Sandoval (Oak Lawn, Ill.), Jacob, and Dorsch would all cross the plate following a sacrifice fly from Cajigas and a longshot to centerfield for Kasik, putting the Cougars up double on the Colonels.
The Cougars would pick up their final runs of the game after hits from Anderson, Gledhill, Jacob, and Dorsch would get runners on the bases and bring in the last three runs of the game.
The Cougars would secure the win in game one with a tight score of 15-14. Stutzman would pick up his third win of the season while
Mike Tobin (Hickory Hills, Ill.) would pick up his second save. Freshman
Tyler Pritchard (Manhattan, Ill.) and transfer
Aidan Teahan (Park Ridge, Ill.) would also see time on the mound for the Cougars, while pitching 1.2 and 0.2 innings, respectively.
Game Two
Inside the Box
- The Cougars threw four arms in game two as Chandler Kerr (Lockport, Ill.), Anthony Pullano (Park Ridge, Ill.), Dax Meyer (Lombard, Ill.), and Eliot Higgins (Park Ridge, Ill.) all saw their time on the bump.
- Jacob led the Cougars while going two-for-four at the plate.
Game two for the Cougars proved to be a challenge as the narrative seemingly flipped from the first nine innings. With Kerr on the bump for the Cougars, they were able to give up five runs in the first inning before the Cougars were able to retaliate in the third inning. A single to left from Kasik would give Jacob the chance to cross the plate and pic up their first run of the game.
From this point on, the game turned into the hands of the Colonels as they jumped to as much as a 17-run lead. In the top of the seventh inning, a single from
Nick Rensberger (Milford, Ind.) would let Jacob cross the plate and bring the score to a 16-point deficit, but the Cougars ultimately fell to the Colonels 18-2.
The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow, March 26 2023, as they take on their final game against Centre College scheduled for a 12:00 pm EDT start time. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
