RIVER FOREST, Ill. – As the school year winds down, Concordia University Chicago (CUC) athletics continue to turn up the heat on the track, field, and court. Check out all the action below.
 
Track & Field
The Cougars competed at the Wisconsin Lutheran Invite, hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC).
 
The men's team finished fourth of eight teams. Vincent Scarnato (Pottstown, Pa.) secured second place in the 400m with a time of 51.35. Jamel Goins (Columbus, Ohio) finished second in the 400m hurdles with a time of 57.42. Kamren Hannah (El Paso, Texas) recorded a time of 22.71 in the 200m to finish third. In the javelin throw, Austin Jackson (Addis, La.) took third with a personal best throw of 37.94m.
 
The women's team finished sixth of ten teams. Izzy Fairless (Royal Oak, Mich.) led the team, finishing second in the 800m with a time of 2:28.90. Noor Sammour (Berwyn, Ill.) tied her season best in high jump with a leap of 1.50m, placing third. Madalyn Smock (Poplar Grove, Ill.) secured fourth in the javelin throw with a mark of 25.96m. Aniyah Isom (Chicago, Ill.) placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 5.05m.
 
CUC will be back in action hosting the Cougar Invite this weekend. On Friday, April 24, the throwing events will take place in Lisle, Ill. on the campus of Benedictine University. Then on Saturday, April 25, the remaining events will take place at Concordia Stadium.
 
Baseball (16-15, 11-6)
The CUC baseball team played five games this week.
 
The Cougars started the week with a non-conference game against North Park University, falling 10-9. Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led the way going two-for-four at the plate with two home runs and five RBIs. Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill.) recorded an RBI and scored a run of his own, going two-for-four. Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.) was the final Cougar with multiple hits on the day, going two-for-five with one run and one stolen base. Matthew Licardi (Peoria, Ariz.) had a career outing, pitching five innings with six strikeouts and no walks.
 
Then the Cougars hosted Illinois Tech for a Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) doubleheader. In game one, the Cougars pulled out the 13-12 victory. Dom Owens (Frankfurt, Ill.) went three-for-four at the plate with two RBIs and two runs of his own. Brendan Holloway (Vernon Hills, Ill.) also went three-for-four with three runs of his own. J. Mahler went two-for-four with four RBIs and three runs, including a home run. Linko also hit a home run, going two-for-five at the plate with three RBIs and one run. Michael Southard (Northbrook, Ill.) picked up his season-high four strikeouts while Eliot Higgins (Park Ridge, Ill.) came in relief and picked up his season-high three strikeouts.
 
In game two, the Cougars roared back to a walk off 12-11 win against the Scarlet Hawks. Holloway went three-for-five with two runs. J. Mahler rocketed two more home runs, going two-for-four at the plate with three RBIs. Buckley smashed home a grand slam, leading the charge with six RBIs and one run of his own while going two-for-five at the plate. Linko went four-for-five at the plate with two runs. Richie Sperando (Darien, Ill.) recorded the most important hit of the day, bringing in the winning run. Connor Peckham (Lombard, Ill.) went one-for-one in his pinch-hitting opportunity. Five arms dished on the mound with  Jack Carroll (North Aurora, Ill.) collecting four strikeouts, Anthony Pullano (Park Ridge, Ill.) delivering a scoreless inning, David Deimling (Bloomingdale, Ill.) picking up three strikeouts and one run allowed, and Josh Prosise (Joliet, Ill.) delivering three strikeouts and no earned runs.
 
The Cougars stayed home on Saturday to face off against the Eagles of Edgewood University. In game one, CUC fell 14-7. Owens led the offense, going two-for-three with two RBIs and one run while tacking on a stolen base. Sperando followed with an RBI and going two-for-four at the plate. Five pitchers saw time on the mound, combining for 11 strikeouts. Ryan Renella (Bartlett, Ill.) led the way, picking up five strikeouts while Pullano and Deimling each picked up two.
 
In game two, the Cougars clawed back to a 9-8 victory. J. Mahler led the way, going three-for-four with two RBIs, two runs, and one home run. He was also responsible for the walk off win. Holloway followed, going four-for-five at the plate with two RBIs and two runs. Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) went three-for-five with one RBI. Higgins got the start on the mound while Licardi and Kyle Connelly (New Lenox, Ill.) came in as relivers, each collecting two strikeouts.
 
Before the doubleheader, the Cougars honored their seniors,  Blake Hickey (Chicago, Ill.), Allen Mateo (Austell, Ga.), Garrett Williams (Eaton Rapids, Mich.), Kyle Ston (Winfield, Ill.), J. Mahler, Deimling, Sperando, B. Mahler, Pullano, Owens, Holloway, Carroll, and Higgins.
 
This week the Cougars play four games. On Monday, April 20, CUC will play the second game of the series against Marian University at 3:00 pm. Then on Wednesday, April 22, the Cougars host North Central College (NCC) for a single non-conference game at 3:00 pm at the Thunderdome. NACC play resumes on Saturday, April 25. The Cougars head up to Milwaukee, Wis. for a doubleheader against WLC. First pitch will be at 12:00 pm.
 
Softball (12-18, 7-11)
The Cougars played two doubleheaders on the road this week.
 
CUC first played Edgewood. In game one, the Cougars edged out the Eagles, 3-2. Alaina Pilas (Chicago, Ill.) and Alyssa Campos (Eastvale, Calif.) both went one-for-two at the plate, with Campos tallying a run. Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) and McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) each went one-for-three at the plate, both scoring a run, while Hadzic tacked on an RBI. Campos also picked up the win in the circle, facing 16 batters in five innings pitched.
 
In game two, the Cougars claimed their second victory over the Eagles, 15-8. Campos went four-for-five at the plate, collecting three runs and four RBIs. Also going four-for-five at the plate was Hadzic, who scored a run of her own and totaled two RBIs. Linley Southern (Decatur, Ill.) was perfect at the plate, going three-for-three and adding a run. Katie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) secured her second win of the season in the circle with 2.2 innings pitched and one strikeout on 15 batters faced.
 
The following day, the Cougars split a doubleheader with Alverno College. In game one, the Inferno came out on top, 5-1. Mayah Larenas (Chino, Calif.) went a perfect two-for-two at the plate, picking up an RBI. Morris went two-for-three, scoring the Cougars' lone run. Eliza Auger (Littleton, Colo.) went one-for-two at the plate.
 
The Cougars came back with a vengeance in game two, taking the game 14-5 in six innings. Hadzic led the charge, opening the game with a three-run home run and following it up with a grand slam in the top of the sixth for a career-high seven RBIs and three runs scored while going three-for-five at the plate. Auger went two-for-three at the plate, both doubles, while grabbing three runs and an RBI. Morris and Larenas both went two-for-four at the plate. Morris tacked on two runs and two RBIs, including her first home run of the season. Larenas came in with one run. Campos got the win in the circle, recording two strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched.
 
This week the team has two doubleheaders. The Cougars will host WLC on Saturday, April 25. First pitch will be at noon. Then on Sunday, April 26, CUC heads up to Milwaukee, Wis. to battle Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). First pitch will be at 12:00 pm.
 
Men's Tennis (1-17, 1-5)
The Cougars played one match this week.
 
CUC fell to MSOE, 7-0. In the No.1 doubles match, Andres Villagran (El Paso, Texas) and Sam Smith (Munster, Ind.) were outplayed 6-1. Kyle Pelzek (Hales Corners, Wis.) and Kevin Bullens (River Forest, Ill.) were defeated 6-2 in the No.2 match. Competing in the No.3 match, Diego Loveshe (Franklin Park, Ill.) and August Barnes (Sodus, Mich.) were shut out 6-0 against the Raiders. The Cougars fell in all six singles matches. Joshua Gustafson (Merrill, Wis.) and Smith both put one point on the board in their respective singles matches, but both lost both sets, 6-0, 6-1. Bullens adding a couple points in the second set, he ultimately fell short with scores of 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.
 
The Cougars clinched their spot in the NACC playoffs as the No. 6 seed. They will face No. 3 St. Norbert College on Tuesday, April 28.

Esports
The Smash team has clinched their spot at nationals as the 15th seed. They will play the No. 2 East Central University (ECU) Tigers Fentom at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 21.
 
You can keep up with all things CUC Athletics on Twitter @CUChicagoSports, watch all the action at cucougars.com/coverage, and view all photos from the seasons here.