RIVER FOREST, ILL. — Hosting their home opener, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) softball team hosted the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) to begin conference play. What became a huge offensive day at Cougar Field, the Cougars would be defeated in both games by the Raiders, 19-4 in five innings and 13-10.
Game One: 19-4 (5 inn.) L
Inside the Box Score:
-
Haley Gulsby (Englewood, Fla.) was a perfect two-for-two at the plate with one double and one run scored
-
Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) went two-for-three with a double and three of the four runs hit in
How It Happened:
-
MSOE would start off with a lead of 1-0 after some timely hitting to open up the game. They would then carry this momentum into the second inning, where they took their lead to 4-0.
-
The Raiders stayed hot, and it quickly became a 9-0 lead for the Cougar opponent.
-
In the top of the fourth, the CUC defense was able to find some kinks in the MSOE armor and go three-up three-down to end the inning.
-
Unfortunately, MSOE made a huge recovery and response, and it quickly became 19-0 in the top of the fifth.
-
Gulsby and Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) were able to get on base, with the five inning run-rule looming over the Cougars. They were then hit in by Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) who had a hit to center 19-1.
-
Santos hit a bases clearing double to left to try and make some moves for CUC 19-4. However, this would go unanswered and CUC would fall 19-4 in game one.
Game Two: 13-10 L
Inside the Box Score:
-
Santos had a stellar day at the plate overall, going four-for-four in game two with a home run, four RBIs, and a run
-
Also picking up extra-hit outings in game two was Gulsby, Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.), and Olivia Stroker (St. Louis, Mo.)
How It Happened:
-
MSOE was looking to pull momentum from game one, as they took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
-
However, CUC was not ready to go quietly, as Stroker started it off with a double to left field. She was then hit in by Julia Pataluna (Commerce City, Colo.), cutting the lead in half 2-1.
-
The Raiders made a quick rebuttal, taking their lead ahead to 3-1 in the top of the third.
-
But the Cougars came to play in game two, with Katelyn Smith (Chatsworth, Ga.) dribbling out a hit to score Santos 3-2.
-
The fourth brought on a huge amount of action for both teams, as MSOE began with a couple more runs tacked on to make it 5-2.
-
Garcia would get the runs scoring in the fourth, as she gave up a sacrifice fly to score Gulsby 5-3. Geng and Santos would both single to keep the Cougars moving, making the score 5-4. They would then tie the game up, as Smith made her second sacrifice of the afternoon at 5-5.
-
In the top of the fifth, the Raiders would try and steal a run to take the lead, but Geng and Annabella Archuletta (Pueblo, Colo.) would gun the runner down to stop the MSOE offense.
-
CUC would then take the lead, as the freshman duo of Garcia and Stroker hit each other around to make it 6-5.
-
However, MSOE's bats were too hot, with two back-to-back homers to take the lead back 7-6.
-
Looking to put this game away, the Raiders pulled their lead to a hefty 13-6 to end the seventh.
-
With their backs against the wall, CUC tried to make some room for themselves, with Geng singling to score a run 13-7.
-
Santos would then send a scorching ball out over the center field wall, hitting herself a three-run homer and pulling the Cougars to a 13-10 ball game.
The Cougars head off campus next week for some non-conference action. They will play Carthage College on Wednesday at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
