FOND DU LAC, WIS. --- Heading up north for a whole weekend of play in Wisconsin, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) softball team took on the battle against the Marian University Sabres. After a full 25 innings of play, these two opponents would end up splitting on the afternoon. The Cougars would win game one with a score of 3-0 in 14 innings, with the Sabres taking game two with a score of 2-1 in 11 innings.
Game One: 3-0 W (14 inn.)
Inside the Box Score:
- Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.) were capitalizing on offense, both going five-for-six at the plate.
- Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) made a huge splash in the 14th inning, picking up her two RBIs on a double
- Ashley Shroll (Tampa, Fla.) took the bulk of the innings in game one, recording 8.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Emma Borrelli (Arlington Heights, Ill.) got the win for game one, after closing out 2 innings with one strikeout.
How It Happened:
- This game would go into extra due to the domination from both teams pitchers throughout the regulated seven innings of play. The Cougars would threaten in the third with Geng at second, but CUC would not close out to score first at this point.
- In the fifth inning, the Cougars would turn a double play, shifting the momentum in their favor.
- In the top of the sixth, Geng and Santos would reach base, but again would not be able to make their way across the plate.
- With Megan Bouska (Plainfield, Ill.) on the mound, the Cougars would continue to hold off the Sabres through the regulated innings.
- In the bottom of the eighth, Shroll would re-enter on the mound and continue to dominate, including picking up more strikeouts on the afternoon.
- In the 13th inning, Marian would make their way on base, but Borrelli in the circle shut them down yet again.
- The top of the 14th is when CUC would strike, with Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) hitting a single, followed by Geng and Santos, scoring the first run of the game 1-0.
- Hadzic followed up her teammates with a double, scoring two more runs to their name 3-0. Borrelli and the CUC defense then went out and held Marian down, taking game one 3-0 in 14 innings.
Game Two: 2-1 L (11 inn.)
Inside the Box Score:
- Geng and Garcia were joined by Annabella Archuletta (Pueblo, Colo.), Gina Westphal (Elmhurst, Ill.), and Bouska, all picking up a hit in game two
- McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) picked up the lone run of the game
- Eden Pufahl (Laguna Hills, Calif.) pitched a career-high 9.2 innings with four strikeouts and only one earned run scored
How It Happened:
- The game momentum would begin the same way as it did in game one, with both teams battling for each at bat.
- Nobody would truly threaten until the bottom of the sixth, when Marian scored the first run of the game 1-0. They would end up loading the bases, but a 5-2-3 double play would get the Cougars out of the jam.
- In the top of the seventh, Archuletta would pinch hit and slam a single, allowing Morris to reenter and run. After a sacrifice bunt from Westphal, Morris would see third base unoccupied and take off for the extra opportunity.
- Katelyn Smith (Chatsworth, Ga.) then hit a ball to shortstop, but it gave Morris just enough time to score and tie the game up 1-1.
- Both teams struggles to break through the defense, however it would be the Sabres who walked it off in the 11th with a single. This would close the game out with a 2-1 loss in 11 innings for the Cougars.
The Cougars will be straight back to action tomorrow, as they travel to Alverno College for games at 12 and 2 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
