RIVER FOREST, ILL. -- After a string of postponements, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars took to the South side where they fell to the Illinois Institute of Technology Scarlet Hawks in both games.

GAME ONE
INSIDE THE BOX

• Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.) led the offense after going two-for-three at the plate with one RBI.
• Elijah Hickman (Rensselaer, Ind.) drove in the other run of the day while going one-for-four at the plate.
• Wyatt McLaughlin (Cave Creek, Ariz.) worked seven complete innings on the mound while picking up a season-high six strikeouts with 117 pitches thrown.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars got on the board early after a single from Garry Maynard (Oswego, Ill.) was followed up by a double from Kasik that would score him to take the lead in the top of the first.
• With McLaughlin hard at work in his first appearance of the game, the Cougars retired the inning without giving up a run. 
• Behind their bats again, a single from Hickman with a Jaime Sandoval (Oak Lawn, Ill.) in scoring position would give the Cougars their second and final run of the game. 
• After McLaughlin picked up two strikeouts in the bottom of the second, the Cougars were able to ward off the Scarlet Hawks for a while longer before they were able to cut the Cougar lead to one after picking up a run in the bottom of the third. 
• With the score remaining stagnant for the next four innings, the Scarlet Hawks finally found some momentum in the bottom of the eighth. With Dax Meyer taking the mound for the Cougars in relief of McLaughlin, the Scarlet Hawks put up three runs off three hits that gave them their first lead of the day. 
• With one opportunity to build their lead back, the Cougars fell just short after leaving the tying runs on base in the top of the ninth inning, closing the game 4-2.

GAME TWO
INSIDE THE BOX

• Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Tyler Krater (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the offense in game two as they both went one-for-three at the plate with one RBI each while Dorsch picked up one stolen base.
• Sandoval picked up the lone double of the game.
• Despite Chandler Kerr (Lockport, Ill.) getting the start for the game, Sammy Valdez (Plainfield, Ill.) led on the mound after pitching four innings while securing three strikeouts and allowing one run. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Unable to get anything going on offense in the top of the first, the Cougars turned things over to their defense to start the game.
• As the Scarlet Hawks continued to ride the momentum from their first game win, they came to work in the second game and picked up six runs in their first at bat off five hits.
• Fighting to battle the deficit they found themselves in following the first inning, the Cougars remained scoreless until the top of the third where hits from Hickman, Dorsch, and Krater moved runners around the base and picked up two runs.
• The Cougars were able to secure their third and final run of the game in the top of the fourth inning after a leadoff single from Carter Gledhill (Arlington Heights, Ill.) followed by a double from Sandoval would put runners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly to centerfield from Christian Jacob (Scottsdale, Ariz.) would send Gledhill home and keep the momentum with the Cougars.
• Holding off the Scarlet Hawks for another two innings, the Cougars would ultimately fall 6-3 after the game was retired after five innings due to light restrictions.

The Cougars will be back at home this Saturday, April 22nd, as they take on Concordia University Wisconsin for another NACC matchup with first pitch slated for noon following a memorial ceremony for former CUC pitcher Drew Knipper. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.