PLYMOUTH, WIS. -- In the heart of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars headed up north to take on the Lakeland University Muskies, falling in two games.

GAME ONE
INSIDE THE BOX

• Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.) led the offense going three-for-five with three RBIs.
• Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) followed behind going three-for-five with two RBIs.
• Garry Maynard (Oswego, Ill.) followed closely behind, going two-for-five with three RBIs.
• Westin Stutzman (Goshen, Ind.) pitched five complete innings and secured five strikeouts. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a double to left field from Kasik sent Christian Jacob (Scottsdale, Ariz.) home.
• They extended their lead to three after singles from Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.), Kasik, and Mahler moved the Cougars around the bases and scored two.
• The Muskies started their battle back in the bottom of the third and cut the Cougars' lead down to one.  
• Wasting no time, the Cougars jumped further ahead after picking up three hits and three runs in the top of the fourth. Doubles from Jacob and Maynard put the Cougars in scoring position for Kasik to drop a ball in left field to score two runs and bring the Cougars ahead 6-2. 
• With Stutzman still working on the bump, the Muskies added two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Mahler tacked on a retaliation run in the top of the fifth and gave the Cougars a comfortable three-run lead.
• In the bottom of the fifth, a three run homer from the Muskies leveled the playing field and kept the Cougar defense on their toes.
• Locking in to fight their way back, a two-run homer from Maynard would give the Cougars the lead back for a short amount of time before the Muskies tied things up.
• Unable to convert offensively in the top of the ninth, the Cougars were forced to play defense to keep the fight alive. In true walkoff fashion, the Muskies were able to pick up a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to secure the game one win

GAME TWO
INSIDE THE BOX

• Mahler kept his bat hot at the plate going two-for-four.
• Kasik brought in the only three runs of the game with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth.
• Freshman Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) picked up his first start of the year stepping in at third base and going one-for-four at the plate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars quickly fell behind after giving up four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. 
• As the Cougars struggled to get things going offensively, the defense became more and more vital. Unable to shut down the intense Muskies' offense, the Muskies pulled a few more runs and jumped to a 7-0 lead. 
• In the top of the ninth, Dorsch and Jacobs both found their way on base before a home run to left field from Kasik put the Cougars on the board as they closed the game 8-3. 

The Cougars will be back in action on Monday, April 10th, as they take on Wisconsin Lutheran College at noon back home at The Thunderdome. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.