Melbourne, Fla. - The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougars softball team traveled to Melbourne, Florida for a 10-day trip highlighting eight games to open the 2025 season. After splitting on day one, the Cougars were back in action for two more games against the Rose-Hulman Fighting Engineers and the Houghton University Highlanders. The Cougars split again on day two where they lost to Hulman 6-4 but came out victorious over Houghton 9-1. 

Game One

Inside the Box Score

• Jolene Anderson (Romeoville, Ill.) was the lone Cougar with more than two hits where she went two for three in game one. 
• Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.), Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.), Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.), and Ashley Shroll (Tampa, Fla.) each added one hit. 
• Alyssa Campos (Eastvale, Calif.) started off pitching in game one where she pitched three innings and two strikeouts. 

Here's What Happened

• Neither team scored until the sixth inning. 
• At the top of the sixth, the Engineers were first on the board and continued to score until they were stopped at four. Heading into the bottom of the sixth the Cougars were down 0-4. 
• At the bottom of the sixth, Shroll doubled to right field and Geng singled to third base which allowed for Shroll to advance.
• A single to left field by Garcia brought Shroll home to put the first run on the board for the Cougars. 
• An error by the catcher allowed Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) to get to first as well as advance Smith and bring Geng home bringing the Cougars within two. 
• To round off the scoring for the Cougars, a single to left field and fielder's choice brought in Smith and Santos.
• At the top of the seventh two runs for the Engineers were unanswered by the Cougars and they ultimately fell 6-4. 

The Cougars took a few hours off before heading into their second game of the day against Houghton. 

Game Two

Inside the Box Score

• McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) had a great game at the plate where she went three for four and two RBIs. 
• Esmeralda Luevano (Chicago, Ill.) had a perfect two for two behind the plate and added two RBIs
• Mayah Larenas (Chino, Calif.) and two RBIs and Julia Pataluna (Commerce City, Colo.) and Smith each had one. 

Here's What Happened

• The Cougars were on the board first at the top of the third inning after a single to left field by Smith that brought Pataluna home. 
• The Highlanders responded at the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one. 
• At the top of the fourth, Lucero and Anderson singled to left field and Lopez got on base after a perfectly placed bunt. A Morris single brought Lopez home and put the Cougars back into the lead at 2-1. 
• The Cougar dominance charged on at the top of the fifth where Santos singled on a bunt and Lucero reached home on a fielder's choice. After a grounded out, Hadzic scored and then Lucero scored closely behind by a single to center field from Luevano. Heading into the bottom of the inning the Cougars led 5-1. 
• Geng and Smith both singled and put themselves into scoring position by stolen bases. A single to right field by Larenas acclimated a two RBI that brought home both Geng and Smith to put the Cougars up 7-1 at the top of the sixth.
• The final two runs were singled to shortstop by Luevano and Morris that allowed Larenas and Lucero to run home. 

The Highlanders were unable to score at the bottom of the sixth and the game was finished in six innings due to the run rule. The Cougars took a huge win over the Highlanders 9-1. 

What's Next

The Cougars will have Wednesday off to rest but will be back in action March 6th, to compete against Concordia College and John Carroll University at 4:45 pm and 7:00 pm EST for some more double-header action. Coverage for all things CUC softball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.