RIVER FOREST, ILL. --- Taking a break from their conference action, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) softball team played host to Lake Forest College (LFC). Playing two games in the later afternoon, the first game would conclude with a Cougar loss of 7-0. However, game two would be halted before going into extra innings due to light, ending in a 10-10 tie.
Game One: 7-0 L
Inside the Box Score:
- Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) would have the only multi-hit outing in game one, going two-for-three at the plate
- Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) and Annabella Archuletta (Pueblo, Colo.) would both pick up a hit as well
- Four Cougar pitchers would be seen in game one. However, Eden Pufahl (Laguna Hills, Calif.) would pitch a stellar three innings with no runs given up and three strikeouts
How It Happened:
- The action would be limited between these two teams until the fourth inning. The Foresters would end up taking the lead with a huge blasted homerun for a score of 2-0.
- Santos would pick up a single, but left stranded on the bases.
- LFC continued tacking on to their lead in the fifth, making it a hefty lead of 6-0.
- Archuletta would then single, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Alyssa Kontopoulos (Elmhurst, Ill.) to put pinch runner McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) into the scoring position. But the Cougars were just unable to string the hits together and score a run.
- The Foresters would pick up one more run, taking their score to 7-0.
- Garcia would get a single and get on base, but CUC was unable to string together the offense in game one. This would result in a loss of 7-0 to the Foresters.
Game Two: 10-10 Tie
Inside the Box Score:
- Santos continued her stellar day at the plate, going three-for-five with two home runs and five RBIs
- Garcia and Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.) would both have two-hit outings in this matchup
- All five of the Cougar pitchers would see time in this game. Ashley Shroll (Tampa, Fla.) took the bulk, pitching four innings with four hits allowed and two strikeouts
How It Happened:
- LFC continued their momentum from game one, quickly making a 1-0 lead in the first. Shroll quickly took reigns of the situations, picking up two strikeouts on the Foresters in the second.
- This would allow CUC to begin their offense. Gina Westphal (Elmhurst, Ill.) started off with a double to get it started. Olivia Stroker (St. Louis, Mo.) then walked, and Santos blasted a ball out of the park for a three-run homer 3-1.
- In the top of the fourth, the Foresters made an immediate response, hitting two homeruns and taking the lead back at 5-3. This trend continued in the fifth, making the score 8-3, and then 9-3 in the sixth.
- The seventh inning, LFC would finalize their scoring with a score of 10-3, with CUC heading up to the plate with a last chance opportunity.
- The Cougars turned it on, with Santos hitting her second long ball of the day to make it 10-4.
- Garcia and Geng then singled, allowing Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) to hit them around to score 10-5. Megan Bouska (Plainfield, Ill.) and Kontopoulos would both put the ball in play, scoring more Cougar runs 10-7.
- Santos would walk with the bases loaded, making it 10-8. Garcia would then smack a ball into play, allowing two more runs to score, tying up the game at 10-10.
- Due to Cougar Field's lack of lights and the diminishing sunlight, the game had to be called a tie at 10-10.
The Cougars will be celebrating Senior Day this coming Saturday, when they host Lakeland University at 1 and 3 p.m. Senior day festivities will be held after the doubleheader. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
