DAVENPORT, FLA. – On day one of Concordia University Chicago's time in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, the Cougars walked away with the 13-10 victory over Grove City College. This win posted the first win of the season for the Cougars and the first win under first year head coach
Matt Smith.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led the charge going two-for-three at the plate with six RBIs off two fully charged home runs.
- Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.) had a strong day, going two-for-three at the plate with four total runs and one RBI.
- Dom Owens (Frankfort, Ill.) also tacked on a home run, picking up three RBIs in the process.
- Jack Carroll (North Aurora, Ill.) picked up the start for the Cougars, going four complete innings with three strikeouts while Matthew Licardi (Peoria, Ariz.) secured his first collegiate win after coming in relief with three innings of work and two strikeouts while only allowing one run. Blake Hickey (Chicago, Ill.) picked up his first save of the season, going two innings with two strikeouts in only eight batters faced.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Wolverines started out hot and picked up two runs on four hits to put the Cougars behind heading into the home half of the inning. With Buckley leading off for the Cougars, he swung on the first pitch of the day and sent a long ball over the right field fence to cut the Wolverine lead in half.
- Building off the initial momentum, Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) picked up an infield single before B. Mahler would find his way on base after being hit by a pitch. Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill.) would send a ball through the left side to score J. Mahler and keep two runners on base for Owens to smash his lone homer on the day and put the Cougars up 5-2.
- Ryan Renella (Bartlett, Ill.) would find his way on and around the bases for an infield groundout to give him time to score and put the Cougars up 6-2 after the first full inning.
- A quick three up, three down in the top of the second put the Cougars back on offense while the bats were hot. Back to the top of the lineup to start the bottom of the second, Buckley wore a pitch and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. With J. Mahler taking a walk, B. Mahler came to the plate and sent a rocket over the left-field fence to score three, putting the Cougars up 9-2.
- The Wolverines would counter in the top of the third, putting up three runs of their own off three consecutive hits, the last being a home run.
- The Cougars would stay aggressive in the bottom of the third, extending their lead out off an identical lineup consisting of Buckley wearing another pitch, J. Mahler taking a walk, and B. Mahler sending a rocket out of the park to score three and put the Cougars up 12-5.
- The Wolverines battled back, picking up four runs in the top of the fourth before a scoreless two half innings would put CUC back behind the bats with Buckley leading off. A leadoff single from Buckley paired with a stolen base and a single from Linko would score CUC's final run of the day, putting them up 13-9.
- The next run wouldn't be scored until the top of the seventh where the Wolverines would tack one run on off two hits before a stagnant final few innings would see the game come to a close off back-to-back strikeouts for Hickey to secure the team's first win of the season.
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
The team will be back in action tomorrow, March 1
st, as they play Bluffton University at 10:30 am EST. Coverage can be found at cuocugars.com.
