RIVER FOREST, ILL. --- As the regular season looks to come to a close, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) softball team hosted the Rockford University (RU) Regents in a mid-afternoon battle. With hits galore in game one and a pitching duel for game two, the Cougars would split with the Regents, losing game one 7-4 and winning game two 3-0.
Game One: 7-4 L
Inside the Box Score:
- Only four Cougars would pick up hits in game one, but Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) smacked a lead-off homerun to add to her repertoire
- Eden Pufahl (Laguna Hills, Calif.) would pitch the majority of game one, with four innings pitched, two earned runs given up, and one strikeout
How It Happened:
- RU would start off early in the first inning, scoring the first run off of a handful of singles 1-0.
- Santos would then respond with a solo shot to start the afternoon and tie the game up 1-1. Unfortunately, the score would stay here to end the inning.
- The Regents responded swiftly, making some quick work of the Cougars 3-1.
- In the second, the Cougars would walk the bases loaded, but they would be left stranded with runners in scoring position.
- Megan Bouska (Plainfield, Ill.) would then come in to pitch for CUC, a quick inning with a double play brought some momentum behind the Cougars.
- After Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) walked and Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) put a ball in play, they would get an opportunity to score off of a pass ball 3-2. This continued with a Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.) double, tying the game up at 3-3.
- A quick three-up, three-down inning brought CUC back to the plate. Olivia Stroker (St. Louis, Mo.) made base by singling through the left side, then a Garcia ball would bring her around to score 4-3.
- Unfortunately, RU would end up making a huge rally of runs to take the lead of 7-4. CUC would get out of a bases loaded situation in the seventh, allowing them a final opportunity at the plate.
- With Garcia and Annabella Archuletta (Pueblo, Colo.) on the corners, CUC was just shy of taking the lead back. They would end up falling in game one 7-4.
Game Two: 3-0 W
Inside the Box Score:
- Geng went a perfect two-for-two with a double and a run scored
- Haley Gulsby (Englewood, Fla.) made the big play of the day with her squeeze bunt to take the lead
- Going the distance, Ashley Shroll (Tampa, Fla.) threw seven complete innings for a shutout and five strikeouts
How It Happened:
- Shroll was dominant on the mound, not allowing a hit through the first two innings. The shutout trend would continue, with the fourth and fifth innings ending on strikeouts.
- A Stroker walk and Santos double would put them in scoring position for Gulsby. Gulsby would successfully put down the squeeze bunt, with Stroker sprinting in to score 1-0. After Gulsby tried to take second, Santos snuck in to score an additional run 2-0.
- RU would try to make some moves, but Shroll stayed vigilant in the circle and shut down the Regents.
- Geng would pick up a double in the sixth, then advance to third off of a pass ball. This gave McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) the opportunity to single and score another run 3-0.
- Shutting down the seventh, the Cougars would take the game two win 3-0.
The Cougars will end their regular season at home on Friday against Concordia University Wisconsin at 3 and 5 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
