Verona, Wis. - The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougars softball team traveled to Verona Wisconsin for some Saturday Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) action against the Eagles of Edgewood College. In game one the Cougars started off slow, but had a major comeback in the last few innings and took the win 9-8. The Cougars kept the winning going and took game two 8-4, and swept the Eagles.

Game One

Inside the Box Score:

• McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) had herself a perfect game, going four for four as well as added one RBI.
• Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) went two for three, added two RBIs, and ran in two runs.
• Morgan Houfek (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) picked up the win on the mound after pitching three innings with one strikeout. 

Here's What Happened

• The Eagles had a powerful first inning where they scored six runs on five hits. The Eagles took an early 6-0 lead.
• The Cougars remained scoreless until the top of the fourth where the Cougars did not get a hit until the Eagles had two outs and were operating with only one out to go in the inning. 
• Santos doubled to left center followed by a Morris single to advance Santos to third. Alyssa Campos (Eastvale, Calif.) singled down the left field line, allowing Santos to come home and Morris to advance to second, putting one on the board for the Cougars. This would conclude the scoring for the Cougars at the top of the fourth making the score 6-1. 
• The Cougars didn't allow the Eagles any runs at the bottom of the fifth, bringing them right back up to bat.
• Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) singled through the left side and Jessica Geng (Phoenix, Ariz.) tripled to right field, bringing home Garcia, making the score 6-2, favoring the Eagles.
• Mayah Larenas (Chino, Calif.) walked and Santos was hit by a pitch, loading the bases while operating on two outs. Morris singled to left field which allowed all runners to advance and Geng scored, now making the score 6-3.
• After a pitching change for the Eagles, and runners on each base, Campos walked, which brought home the final run of the inning for the Cougars with the score at 6-4.
• At the bottom of the six, the Eagles were able to score a run to increase their lead to 7-4. 
• The Cougars had one final inning to get their offense going and they did just that. Leading off with Santos, she hit a homerun to get the Cougar scoring started in the top of the seventh. The score was now 7-5.
• Morris doubled to right center, Campos was walked, and Kallie Tierney (Corona, Calif.) singled through the left side, causing a bases loaded situation. Garcia doubled to right center bringing in two more runs, which tied the game up at 7 apiece. 
• Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) came in to pinch hit where she singled through the right side and brought home two more, allowing the Cougars to take the lead 9-7.
• At the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles obtained one more run but the Cougar defense did not come to play and the Cougars remained in the lead, taking game one 9-8.

Game Two

Inside the Box Score:

• Tierney went a perfect three for three in game two and added two RBIs. 
• Morris and Geng both went two for four and each added two and one RBIs, respectively.
• Campos picked up the win on the mound where she pitched four innings and had three strikeouts.

Here's What Happened

• The Cougars struck first where Garcia doubled to left field and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Geng singled to center field and allowed Garcia to get home making the score 1-0. 
• Morris singled to right field allowing Geng to advance to third. Larenas reached first on a fielder's choice, when the Eagles took the force out at second to get Morris, however Geng was still able to make it home, rounding out the scoring in the opening inning where the score was 2-0.
• There was a scoring drought for both teams until the bottom of the third where the Eagles connected offensively, scoring four runs, where they took the lead, making the score 4-2.
• The Cougars answered the four runs by the Eagles with four of their own at the top of the fourth. 
• Larenas singled through the left side, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Santos was grounded out at first but this would allow Larenas to advance to third. Hadzic was walked and then advanced to second on a passed ball, putting two runners in scoring position. A single from Ashley Shroll (Tampa, Fla.) down the right field line would allow both Larenas and Hadzic to get home, tying the game up at four.
• A home run for Tierney, and with Shroll still on base allowed the Cougars to take the lead once again, where the score was now 6-4. This rounded out the scoring in the top of the fourth. 
• Neither team would score until the Cougars came out for one last hoorah in the top of the seventh, where Geng singled through the right side, followed by a Morris home run to bring in the final two runs of the game.
• The Eagles were unable to match the Cougar runs in the bottom half of the final inning and the Cougars took game two, 8-4.

What's Next

The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 5th to take on the Alverno Inferno with 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm start times. Coverage for all things CUC softball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.