RIVER FOREST, ILL. – In a long delayed game two against Benedictine University, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars hosted the Eagles for a 3-1 victory, extending out to 7-3 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led the offense going two-for-three at the plate with three RBIs. All scoring came at the hands of the senior who picked up back-to-back home runs to give the Cougars all three runs on the day. This marked Mahler's fourth game this season with multiple home runs.
- Jack Carroll (North Aurora, Ill.) picked up a new career-high in strikeouts with ten and innings pitched with eight.
- Four other Cougars picked up hits on the day in Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.), Xavier Zagerman (Chandler, Ariz.), Austin Koberstein (Milwaukee, Wis.), and Richie Sperando (Darien, Ill.).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Carroll got to work early, picking up his first strikeout of the day on his first batter of the day. Despite giving up a walk, Carroll would retire the inning in only three batters after picking off the base runner. A slow bottom of the first would see the Cougars retired in order and hand things right back to Carroll and the Cougar defense, where the senior left-handed pitcher would secure two strikeouts, upping his total to three in only two innings of work.
- In the bottom of the second, Mahler would send a long ball to left field that would fall short at the warning track for out number one before back-to-back hits for Koberstein and Sperando would put two runners on. Unable to convert on the runners, the Cougars would close the inning scoreless.
- A quick third inning would see both the Eagles and Cougars go down in three before the top of the fourth would se three strikeouts from Carroll, upping his total to seven in four innings.
- The bottom of the fourth would see the first run of the day with Mahler's solo home run over the right field fence. Immediately after, Zagerman would send a hard ball out to center before stealing second and putting a runner in scoring position. The Cougars would again fall short in clearing the bags, but they would end the inning with the 1-0 lead.
- The top of the fifth would see two more strikeouts added to Carroll's statline before handing things back to the Cougar offense. Buckley would drop a single out to the outfield, eventually making his way to second. The Cougars would leave him stranded and close the inning still with the 1-0 advantage.
- Carroll would pick up his final strikeouts of the day in the top of the sixth with a leadoff, full count strikeout to start the three up, three down inning. The bottom of the sixth would see Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) find his way on base off an infield error for B. Mahler to send a full count homer to left field, putting the Cougars up 3-0.
- Things would stay steady until the top of the ninth, where Kyle Connelly (New Lenox, Ill.) would come in relief for the Cougars, loading up the bases and allowing one run to score. A ball hit to J. Mahler at third would see the first out of the day, but would allow the lone run for the Eagles to score. A groundout to second would secure out number two while Connelly would send a five-pitch strikeout to secure the win for the Cougars.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT'S NEXT
The Cougars hit the road for a midweek NACC matchup at Aurora University on Wednesday, April 8
th for a noon first pitch. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
