Milwaukee, Wis.– The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) softball team headed up to continue Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) play against the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). The Cougars would split on the day, dropping game one before bouncing back to win game two.
Game One
Inside the Box Score
- McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) led the way for the Cougars, going two-for-four, including two RBI.
- Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) followed suit, also going two-for-four, including a run scored.
- Linley Southern (Decatur, Ill.) also had two hits, including a walk.
- Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Alyssa Campos (Eastvale, Calif.) and Mayah Larenas (Chino, Calif.) each had a hit. Santos also drew a walk.
- Alyssa Lopez (Corona, Calif.) and Katie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) each dished in the circle.
How It Happened
- The Cougars would threaten in the top of the first with two runners reaching base. With one out, a first-pitch single from Southern would then be followed by a Santos walk but that would be all the Cougars would muster as the next two hitters were retired.
- MSOE would go down in order in the bottom half to keep the score knotted up at zero.
- It would stay similar for the Cougars, who could not manufacture any runs in the top of the second and third, as one base runner would reach and be left stranded in each inning.
- The bottom of the third saw MSOE get on the board first as they would put up three runs on a home run to center field, putting the Cougars down 3-0.
- The Cougars would go scoreless in the top of the fourth, including stranding Alaina Pilas (Chicago, Ill.) after she reached second base on a two-out error.
- The bottom half of the fourth saw MSOE add to their lead as a sacrifice fly would make it 4-0
- Both teams could not manage to push a run across as the fifth inning went scoreless.
- The Cougars built some momentum in the top of the sixth. Morris led off with a two-strike single, followed by a Larenas single through the left side. After a pop out, Julia Pataluna (Commerce City, Colo.) would load the bases after an MSOE error. Despite the momentum, the Cougars would not push a run across, as an inning-ending double play ended the threat, keeping it at 4-0.
- Solid pitching from Davis would hold the deficit at four after the bottom of the sixth.
- The Cougars would start to get the offense rolling late in the top of the seventh. With one out, Santos would single through the left side, which was followed by another single by Hadzic. Another base hit from Campos would load the bases. Morris would stay hot and single up the middle, putting the Cougars on the board, scoring two, and cutting the deficit in half. That was all the Cougars would finish with; however, they were quickly retired, ending game one 4-2.
Game Two
Inside The Box Score
- Campos led the way, going perfect at the plate, finishing four-for-four with three RBI and two runs scored while also pitching two innings in the circle.
- Several Cougars picked up a hit in game two, but Morris, Eliza Auger (Littleton, Colo.), and Hadzic each collected two hits. Auger and Morris each drove in an RBI.
- Larenas had a huge swing, collecting a two RBI double in the game two victory.
- Morgan Houfek (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Davis would finish the victory for the Cougars, each collecting multiple strikeouts in their appearance. Houfek would pick up the win.
How It Happened
- Things would go quietly to begin the game. After a one-two-three top of the first from the Cougars, they would hold MSOE scoreless in the bottom half.
- The second inning would see the Cougars threaten, but unable to muster anything while MSOE would jump out to a 1-0 lead after two hits in the bottom of the second, putting the Cougars down.
- The score would stay the same until the top of the fourth, when the Cougars would tie the game at 1-1. After a flyout, Hadzic would double to right center and she would score after Campos would double to tie the game at one. Santos would add a third consecutive hit in the inning for the Cougars with a base hit to center, but that would be all the Cougars would get as a fielder's choice and a groundout would end the inning.
- The Cougars would shut down the MSOE offense in the bottom of the fourth, keeping the game tied.
- The fifth inning would see the Cougars break the tie. Auger would double to left to lead off the inning. Two consecutive outs, including a sacrifice bunt, would move Auger to third, which set things up for Morris. She would deliver a clutch RBI double to left field, scoring Auger and putting the Cougars up 2-1. A flyout would end the inning, but the Cougars capitalized, taking the lead.
- MSOE would not be detained, however, as they would tie the game at 2-to-2 after a Cougar error would bring a run across.
- The sixth inning would see the Cougars take the lead back, starting with a leadoff single by Campos down the right field line. A sacrifice bunt would advance her to second, while a passed ball would put Campos on third with one out. After a groundout, Pilas would single to right center, bringing in Campos, putting the Cougars up 3-2. A next pitch flyout would end the half-inning, but with the Cougars out in front.
- Davis would come into pitch in the bottom sixth and hold MSOE scoreless, keeping the lead at one.
- The top of the seventh would see the Cougars increase their lead greatly. After a leadoff flyout, Pataluna would come in as a pinch hitter and single to left. This would be followed by back-to-back singles by Morris and Hadzic, loading up the bases. Campos would then put an exclamation point on her day with a double to center field, scoring both Morris and Pataluna, putting the Cougars up 5-2. After an MSOE pitching change, Santos would walk, followed by a Larenas double to left center, which would score Campos and Hadzic, adding two more runs to the Cougar lead. Pilas continued the offensive chain with a walk, followed by an Auger single that scored Santos, putting the Cougars up 8-2. Another pitching change from MSOE would set up a fielder's choice from Southern, who would bring in Larenas. A groundout would end the inning, but the Cougars extended their lead to 9-2 heading into the final half.
- Davis would put away MSOE in order. After back-to-back swinging strikeouts, she would induce a first pitch pop-out, sealing the win for the Cougars and the split.
What Is Next
The Cougars will be back in action Tuesday, April 28th, as they take on North Central College in their final non-conference doubleheader in River Forest. The start times for those games are 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM. Coverage can be found at cuccougars.com/coverage.
