River Forest, Ill. - The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougar baseball team hosted game one of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) series against the Eagles of Benedictine University. The Eagles were on the board early, but the Cougars found their spark through a late-inning power surge, launching four home runs, including two from Jake Mahler, to erase a five-run deficit and secure a thrilling 8-7 comeback victory.
Inside the Box Score:
- Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) went two for four, with two home runs and four RBIs, putting up the first runs for the Cougars.
- Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and Richie Sperando (Darien, Ill.) also went two for four on the day, where Sperando also tallied an RBI.
- Xavier Zagerman (Chandler, Ariz.) and Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill) each went one for four where both of their hits were home runs to add to an electric day.
Here's What Happened
- In the top half of the opening inning, with a batter on first after reaching from a fielder's choice, a single by the Eagles would place runners on the corner bags. Another single to right field brought in the first run of the day. The Cougars retired the remaining Eagle batters, but the Eagles took a quick 1-0 lead. The Eagles got the Cougars out in order and put themselves quickly back up to bat.
- The Eagles brought their hot bats into the second inning where two consecutive singles placed batters on first and third once again, where another Eagle run came in after a ground out. A bunt followed by a stolen base would conclude the action at the top of the second where the Eagles led, 2-0.
- B. Mahler kicked off the bottom of the second with a lead off single to center field but a Cougar strikeout followed by a double play by the Eagles would bring them back up to bat, leaving the Cougars scoreless.
- Two singles and a hit by pitch quickly loaded the bases for the Eagles in the top of the third. Two fielder's choices and a single to right field would bring in three more runs for the, increasing the Eagle lead to 5-0.
- Both the bottom of the third and top of the fourth saw three up, three down, putting the Cougars back up to bat in the bottom half of the fourth.
- Brendan Holloway (Vernon Hills, Ill.) was hit by a pitch placing him on first where a J. Mahler homerun brought in both Cougar runs. Following the homer, the remaining Cougars grounded out, but the Cougars slowly started chipping away at the deficit, making the score 5-2 heading into the fifth.
- An error by the Cougars and a single for the Eagles would be enough to bring in another run to make the score 6-2 before heading into the bottom half of the inning.
- Austin Koberstein (Milwaukee, Wis.) was walked and then reached third after an error following a Sperando single to place runners on first and third once again. Unfortunately, the Eagle defense came alive, getting all Cougars out without a run scored, keeping the game at 6-2.
- The Cougars held the Eagles to their second scoreless inning, gaining momentum before heading into a powerful bottom sixth inning.
- Another two run home run by J. Mahler brought the Cougars within two. A single by B. Mahler was followed by another two run home run by Zagerman bringing the game to a tie at 6-6. The Cougars forced a new ball game heading into the seventh.
- Michael Southard (Northbrook, Ill.) came to play as he took the mound in the seventh, where he got all three strikeouts and took care of business on his own. Putting the Cougs back up to bat.
- Linko had a lead off rocket of a home run that put the Cougars in the lead for the first time all game. Holloway had one more single for the Cougars in the inning, but heading into the eighth, the Cougars were up, 7-6.
- The Eagles tied the game back up to seven apiece after a pair of walks and a single to bring in a run.
- In the bottom half of the eighth, operating with two outs, Koberstein doubled to right field followed by a Sperando single to bring him home. The Cougars led 8-7 heading into the ninth.
- The Eagles were unable to respond in the ninth and the Cougars took the game after a strong comeback, 8-7.
What's Next
Game two of the series is slated for an 11:00 AM start tomorrow, Tuesday, March, 30th. Coverage for all things CUC Baseball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
