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Concordia University Chicago Athletics

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CUC Baseball vs St. John Fisher
Josh Prosise, CUC Athletic Communications
17
Winner Concordia Chicago CUCBB 8-10, 3-2 NACC
3
Lakeland University LUBB 6-13, 0-5 NACC
Winner
Concordia Chicago CUCBB
8-10, 3-2 NACC
17
Final
3
Lakeland University LUBB
6-13, 0-5 NACC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Concordia Chicago CUCBB 1 2 2 0 7 4 1 17 12 1
Lakeland University LUBB 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 6 5

W: Renella, Ryan (1-1) L: Sippl, Chris (0-1)

9
Concordia Chicago CUCBB 8-11, 3-3 NACC
10
Winner Lakeland University LUBB 7-13, 1-5 NACC
Concordia Chicago CUCBB
8-11, 3-3 NACC
9
Final
10
Lakeland University LUBB
7-13, 1-5 NACC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Concordia Chicago CUCBB 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 9 11 3
Lakeland University LUBB 0 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 10 8 2

W: Watkins, Eli (1-1) L: Borck, Kadin (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Kayla McCloud, Director of Athletic Communications

Bats Explode for 27 Runs as Cougars Split Wild Doubleheader at Lakeland

PLYMOUTH, WIS. – The Concordia University Chicago baseball team hit the road for a high-scoring doubleheader against fellow Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) team in Lakeland University. The Cougars powered to a dominant 17-3 victory in game one before falling short in a dramatic 10-9 loss in game two. The Cougar offense came alive throughout the day, combining for 27 runs.

GAME ONE: 17-3 W
INSIDE THE BOX
  • Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led at the plate going four-for-five with four RBIs and three runs of his own including two home runs, his third multi-homer game this season.
  • Jeffery Beckert (Mount Prospect, Ill.) went one-for-one at the plate with one RBI, two runs, and three walks on the day
  • Connor Jerkatis (New Lenox, Ill.) went one-for-one at the plate while picking up his first career home run and tacking on three RBIs with three walks.
  • Two arms worked on the mound with Ryan Renella (Bartlett, Ill.) throwing six innings with four strikeouts while Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill.) came in for one inning of relief where he delivered three strikeouts in six batters faced.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Cougars got to work early with a single from Brendan Holloway (Vernon Hills, Ill.) to put a runner on base before a single up the middle from Mahler would move him around and eventually score to take the 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
  • The top of the second would see the Cougars picking up where they left off after Richie Sperando (Darien, Ill.) and Jerkatis would each make their way on base for a bunt from Beckert to load the bases up. A bases loaded walk would score one before a ball hit in the infield would allow another to score and CUC would jump ahead 3-0.
  • The Muskies would put two runs up in the bottom of the inning, but the Cougars would answer quickly. In the top of the third, a leadoff single from Mahler would put one runner one while Xavier Zagerman (Chandler, Ariz.) would take a free base and put two on. With two runners on, a bunt from Austin Koberstein (Milwaukee, Wis.) would move the runner and with the help from a Lakeland error, two runs would score and put CUC up 5-2.
  • The CUC defense would get to work, securing six outs in six batters across the bottom of the third and fourth innings with putouts from Zagerman, Holloway, Sperando, Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.), and a Renella strikeout.
  • The top of the fifth would post a large outing for the CUC offense with bases loading up quickly off a walk for Koberstein, a single through the left side from Sperando, and Jerkatis being hit by another pitch. With a walk for Beckert bringing in another run, a single from Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.) paired with an error from the Muskies would score three, giving Buckley two RBIs.
  • Leading 9-2, the Cougars would force a pitching change where Holloway would take a walk and immediately steal second, giving Buckley time to steal home and put the Cougars up by eight. The last two runs of the inning would come after B. Mahler would launch a ball over the centerfield fence and secure his first home run of the day.
  • A quick bottom of the fifth would let the Cougar offense get back to work where a leadoff single for Koberstein would put one on base for a single from Sperando to make it two. With runners on the corner bases, a home run from Jerkatis to centerfield would score three and extend the Cougar lead out 15-2. With Beckert making his way on base off a walk, a sacrifice fly from Buckley would allow him to score, closing the inning 16-2 in favor of the Cougars.
  • The top of the seventh would see one more run for the Cougars off a solo shot from B. Mahler, collecting his ninth home run of the season.
  • The Muskies would tack on one run in the bottom of the seventh, but not enough to continue the game as three strikeouts from Linko would close game one with the 17-3 victory for CUC.
 
GAME TWO: 10-9 L
INSIDE THE BOX
  • Beckert led the charge going three-for-four at the plate with two runs and two doubles.
  • Zagerman went one-for-five at the plate with three RBIs after picking up his second home run of the season.
  • Four Cougars collected doubles in the game in Buckley, J. Mahler, B. Mahler, and Beckert.
  • Five arms dealt on the mound for the Cougars in Dylan Ferraro (Windsor, Colo.), Blake Hickey (Chicago, Ill.), Matthew Licardi (Peoria, Ariz.), Eliot Higgins (Park Ridge, Ill.), and Kadin Borck (McHenry, Ill.) who all combined for eight strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Cougars got to work early again after a single from J. Mahler paired with a double from B. Mahler would put two runners in scoring position. Though the runners were in scoring position, it was not needed as Zagerman launched his home run over the left field fence to clear the bases and put the Cougars up 3-0 right away. Despite Dom Owens (Frankfort, Ill.) picking up an infield single immediately after, the Cougars would be unable to convert and leave him stranded, but with the three run advantage.
  • The game would sit steady until the bottom of the second where a big burst from the Muskies would give them their first lead over the Cougars all day, 6-3.
  • The Cougars would be unable to score again until the top of the seventh, where a double down the left field line from Beckert paired with a sacrifice fly from Holloway would score one and leave the Cougars trailing 7-4.
  • The game would hold steady again until the top of the ninth where Sperando and Linko would find their way on base, with the latter pinch hitting for Jerkatis. A single to left field from Beckert would load the bases up for a walk from Buckley to score a run. With the bases still loaded, another walk for Holloway would score a run and bring the Cougars within one, forcing a pitching change from the Muskies. After the pitching change, an error from the Muskies would allow J. Mahler to reach safely and score two, putting CUC back on top. A single from B. Mahler would load the bases up for a sacrifice fly from Owens to put the Cougars ahead by two.
  • The Muskies would tie the game up after a hit by pitch, a single, and an error allowed bases to be loaded. With bases loaded and two outs, a hit by pitch would walk the game winning run in.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Cougars get back to work right away with a single game against Benedictine University tomorrow, March 30th with first pitch set for 3:00 pm. They'll then turn around and play game two against Benedictine on Tuesday, March 31st at 11:00 am. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
 
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