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BSB vs Calvin
18
Winner Concordia Chicago CUC 7-9
8
Wheaton (IL) WHEATON 6-9
Winner
Concordia Chicago CUC
7-9
18
Final
8
Wheaton (IL) WHEATON
6-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Concordia Chicago CUC 0 0 8 0 2 2 0 2 4 18 14 2
Wheaton (IL) WHEATON 4 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 8 11 2

W: Pullano, Anthony (1-0) L: Kloth, Jared (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Kayla McCloud, Director of Athletic Communications

Pitching Perfection and Batting Barrage Lead to 18-8 Baseball Triumph

CAROL STREAM, ILL. – In a thrilling display of firepower on the diamond, the Cougars continued to dominate their non-conference campaign with an electrifying 18-8 victory. The game showcased a pitching carousel with ten hurlers taking the mound, while explosive hitters ignited a fireworks display of runs. With a barrage of hits and strategic pitching maneuvers from the Cougar bullpen, aka The Night Shift, the contest delivered non-stop action from the first pitch to the final out, setting the tone for an exhilarating season ahead.


INSIDE THE BOX
  • Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led at the plate going a perfect four for four while picking up five runs and two RBIs. Mahler also secured one stolen base with three putouts.
  • Elijah Hickman (Rensselaer, Ind.) went two for three at the plate with three RBIs and one stolen base.
  • Nick Rensberger (Milford, Ind.) picked up the lone homerun of the day with a solo shot while also roping in four total RBIs. Rensberger totaled two hits in four at bats.
  • Ten arms worked the mound for the Cougars for a total of 14 strikeouts.
  • Anthony Pullano (Park Ridge, Ill.), Dax Meyer (Lombard, Ill.), Kyle Ston (Winfield, Ill.), Connor FitzGerald (Chicago, Ill.), David Gutierrez (Hesperia, Calif.), Brady McCleery (Patterson, Calif.), and Dylan Ferraro (Windsor, Colo.) all worked an inning on the mound without giving up a run.


HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Cougars struggled to get moving at the plate after the first three batters retired rather quickly in the top of the first. A leadoff homer for the Thunder put them up 1-0 right away and a pair of hits scored another. With a two-run homer closing out the bottom of the first, the Cougars quickly found themselves in a four run deficit.
  • With the Cougars once again unable to get some work done at the plate, the Thunder would go up by another two runs and jump out to a six run lead after two full innings.
  • With two walks to leadoff the top of the third, a single from Julio Cajigas (Romeoville, Ill.) would score two runs and get the Cougars on the board. Immediately after, a double down the left field line from Tyler Dorsch (Phoenix, Ariz.) would score another and officially cut the deficit in half.
  • With two consecutive flyouts, the Cougars would operate for the remainder of the inning with no room for error. A walk for Tyler Krater (Phoenix, Ariz.) would put two on base for a double down the left field line from Mahler to score one. With a pair of walks marching in another run, the Cougars would have the bases loaded with Hickman at the plate. A single through the right side would move the runners and score two to officially give the Cougars the lead for the first time of the day.
  • Not content with the one run advantage, Rensberger would squeeze another run in off a passed ball to put the Cougars up 8-6 heading into the bottom of the third.
  • With Meyer on the mound for the Cougars, two infield groundouts and a strikeout would retire the first three batters of the inning and keep the Cougars on top.
  • With the top of the lineup struggling to get going again, the Cougars quickly returned to the field after one hit in four batters closed the top of the fourth for them. Holding the Thunder to another blank inning, the Cougars got back to work with their hottest bats due up. Leadoff walks for Mahler and Yashion Boswell (Lynwood, Ill.) paired with a stolen base each would put the two in scoring position with Rensberger at the plate. A hearty swing to send a ball to centerfield would score the two middle infielders and give Rensberger two of his four RBIs on the day.
  • With a pair of walks loading the bases up, a force play at third would close the inning with the Cougars up 10-6.
  • With the Thunder picking up their first run since the second inning in the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars would still sit ahead 10-7. A rocket to right center from Mahler to kick off the inning would give the sophomore his first career triple. An impeccable bunt from Hickman would not only score Mahler but get himself on base. With the Cougars picking up two runs in the inning, they would catapult themselves ahead by five runs.
  • With FitzGerald on the mound for the Cougars, two groundouts and a strikeout would hold the Thunder scoreless for yet another inning. The retaliation from the Thunder in the top of the seventh would force the Cougars to play defense after finding themselves empty after three batters.
  • With Mahler once again leading the charge to start the inning, a double down the right field line would put him in scoring position for a Boswell single to send him in. The last run of the inning would come at the hands of Rensberger's solo homer to right center to put the Cougars up 14-8 with an inning and a half to play.
  • Holding the Thunder scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, the Cougars took to the plate for the final time of the game for their second highest scored inning of the game.
  • A leadoff single from Cajigas paired with a walk for Dorsch would put runners in scoring position early. A sacrifice fly from Michael Kasik (Chandler, Ariz.) would pick up the first run of the inning before doubles from Krater and Mahler would tack on two more. With Mahler marching his way around the bags, a wild pitch would give the speedster a chance to make the 30-yard dash from third to home and pick up the final run of the game.
  • With Ferraro on the mound to close the game, two strikeouts and a flyout to Cajigas in left field would retire the Thunder and give the Cougars the 18-8 comeback victory.


HIGHLIGHTS

The climb back starts NOW.

Jake Mahler with the shot out to left to make this a 6-4 game 😤 pic.twitter.com/LABieQ40v7

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 26, 2024

 

ELI HICKMAN PUTS THE COUGS AHEAD

I REPEAT 🚨ELI HICKMAN PUTS THE COUGS AHEAD🚨 pic.twitter.com/0SdtSBCxfG

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 26, 2024

 

RBI RBI RBI 🗣️

Big hit from Rensberger to keep the Cougars moving in the top of the fifth 😤 pic.twitter.com/MKoImg1zFf

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 27, 2024

 

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MORE PERFECT BUNT????

OH MY HICKMAN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SnfaePRW40

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 27, 2024

RENSBERGER WITH THE ABSOLUTE ROCKET 🚀🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/tJvR2g7i44

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 27, 2024

Uh oh… Y'all better watch out — Tyler Krater is at the plate…

We told you to watch out!!!! pic.twitter.com/rwEnMdJZUL

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 27, 2024

 

Can Jake Mahler be stopped????

Still to be determined 🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/NEBeu0Wvko

— CUC Baseball (@CUCbaseball) March 27, 2024




The Cougars face a quick turnaround with a conference double-header set for tomorrow, Wednesday March 28th, at home. First pitch at The Thunderdome is set for noon. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
 
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