WHEATON, ILL. — After almost two weeks since playing in The Spring Games, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) softball team traveled to Wheaton College for a non-conference doubleheader. Warming up in the chilly temperature, the Cougars would battle the Thunder in both games, but would fall 3-2 in eight innings and 6-5.
Game One: 3-2 (8 inn.) L
Inside the Box Score:
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Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) both went two-for-four at the plate, with Geng picking up the lone double
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Olivia Stroker (St. Louis, Mo.) also went one-for-two at the plate with a walk, stolen base, and run scored
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Eden Pufahl (Laguna Hills, Calif.) pitched a career-high four innings, only allowing two runs and picking up a strikeout
How It Happened:
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The Cougars would start with an opportunity early in the game, when Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) was hit by a pitch and Geng singled through the left side. However, they would be left stranded to end the top of the first.
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The game would remain scoreless, as both pitchers were locked in the circle. Hadzic and Stroker would both pick up singles, but nothing would get going as they closed out the third.
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In the bottom of the fourth, Wheaton would take the lead of 2-0 after a homer and some good hits through the Cougar defense.
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Looking to make a stand, Stroker would score off of a Geng double to left center, followed by a Hadzic RBI single to tie it up 2-2.
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Megan Bouska (Plainfield, Ill.) then came in for the Cougars in the circle, looking to make quick work of the Thunder's offense. She would get out of a jam with a double play off of a line out to left field and force out at second base.
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The pitching duel continued between these two teams as no one would score in the seventh. This then carried the game into extra innings.
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However, Wheaton would win out with a single down the left field line and take game one 3-2.
Game Two: 6-5 L
Inside the Box Score:
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Garcia and Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) would both snag two hits apiece in game two, with three RBIs between the two Cougars
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Geng stayed speedy on the bases, picking up her second double of the afternoon
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Three Cougars would pitch in this game to help hold off the Wheaton offense, with Emma Borrelli (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Kallie Tierney (Corona, Calif.) picking up the most innings
How It Happened:
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The Cougars would start off early, with Garcia getting on with a single, followed by Hadzic's single to score her 1-0.
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However, the Thunder immediately responded and took the lead back 3-1.
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Heading into the third, CUC would pick up another run after a Geng double and Santos single to make it 3-2.
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Again responding, Wheaton made it 5-2 with some big hits to deepen the lead.
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Stroker and Geng would walk in the top of the fourth, setting them in scoring position. Then, a single from Santos scored Stroker to make it 5-3.
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Wheaton would tack on another run after homering for the second time on the day 6-3.
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The top of the fifth brought a lot of action for the Cougars, as Bouska, Stroker, and Alyssa Kontopoulos (Elmhurst, Ill.) were all able to get on base. Garcia would single and Geng would pick up a sacrifice fly to cut the Wheaton lead to one at 6-5.
The Cougars will be hosting their home opener this weekend on Saturday against the Milwaukee School of Engineering at 12 and 2 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
