LISLE, ILL. – Continuing the battle for spots in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) tournament, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars took on the Benedictine University Eagles, splitting the series.
GAME ONE
INSIDE THE BOX
- Christian Jacob (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led the offense going three-for-five at the plate with four RBIs off of one homerun and one double with two stolen bases.
- Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) followed behind going five-for-six at the plate with four RBIs off two doubles.
- Garry Maynard (Oswego, Ill.) continued the trend going four-for-six at the plate with three RBIs and one homerun.
- Westin Stutzman (Goshen, Ind.) pitched seven complete innings on the mound picking up five strikeouts for his sixth win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars took control right away after Jacob led the game off with a double to centerfield. Advancing on a wild pitch and putting himself in scoring position, a groundball hit to second base would give him enough of a gap to cross the plate and give the Cougars the 1-0 lead early on.
- A quick bottom of the first would turn things back over to the Cougar offense where they'd keep rolling on the momentum they built. With one runner on base, Jacob would send a long ball to left center and pick up his first homerun of the season to bring the Cougars ahead 3-0.
- Another three up, three down inning for the Cougar defense turned things back to the bats where another six runs would keep the Cougars on top. With two runners on base following a single from Maynard, a single to right field would add another run while a follow-up double from Tyler Krater (Phoenix, Ariz.) would send another run in and bring the Cougars up 5-0.
- With two runners on base again, a single through the right side from Elijah Hickman would put another run on the board while putting a runner in scoring position. A wild pitch would let senior Jaime Sandoval cross the plate and put the Cougars up 8-0 before another wild pitch would let Hickman steal home for the 9-0 lead.
- Holding the Eagles scoreless for another two at-bats, the Cougars would also fall stagnant. A fifth inning spark would get the Eagles on the board while the Cougars held the lead 9-2.
- Finding another little spark in the top of the sixth, four consecutive hits for the Cougars would put another run on the board. The Eagles would try to counter and put up three runs in the bottom of the eighth, but the Cougars would hold onto a six-run lead before heading back in the dugout for one more offensive run.
- In the top of the ninth, with two runners already on base, a single to centerfield from Jacob would score both runners and give Jacob his second opportunity to steal a bag and get in scoring position.
- With two runners on base, a three-run homer from Maynard would dig the sword deeper into wound as the Cougars jumped ahead by 11 before a double from B. Mahler would send another run in and put him in scoring position.
- The Cougars would secure their final run of the game off a sacrifice fly from Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) that would send his brother home to give the Cougars the 18-5 win.
HIGHLIGHTS
GAME TWO
INSIDE THE BOX
- Jacob led the offense again while going two-for-five at the plate and picking up one double.
- Graduate student Tyler Sherman (St. Louis, Mo.) went one-for-one at the plate with his first career homerun in the top of the ninth inning, picking up two RBIs.
- Five Cougars took the mound in game two while Aidan Teahan (Park Ridge, Ill.), Sammy Valdez (Plainfield, Ill.), Chandler Kerr (Lockport, Ill), and Mike Tobin (Hickory Hills, Ill.) all recorded strikeouts in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars got on the board first in game two after an opening double from Jacob got things going. Jacob was able to advance to third on the next at-bat and make his way across the plate off a single to right field from Maynard.
- The Eagles tied things up early in the bottom of the first and forced the Cougars to keep their bats hot from game one. Unable to convert offensively in the top of the second inning, the Cougars would fall into a cycle and give up one run an inning while struggling to get more on the board themselves.
- A big fifth inning for the Eagles would shoot them ahead of the Cougars by eight runs, but the Cougars continued to battle back.
- In the top of the ninth, still trailing by nine, the Cougars got things going once again off a single from Jacob to get a runner on base. Pinch hitting for the Cougars, Sherman sent a rocket to left field and cut the deficit down to six. A single from Michael Kasik (Phoenix, Ariz) would get a runner on base, but unable to capitalize, the Cougars fell 9-3.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Cougars continue the hardships of NACC play as they take on Rockford University tomorrow, Sunday April 30
th, for a doubleheader schedule to start at noon. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage while live in-game updates and all other content regarding CUC Baseball can be found on Twitter @cucbaseball.
