Box Score River Forest, Ill. - The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougars softball team was back on their home field to welcome the Regents of Rockford University for a week-opening doubleheader. In game one, the Regents took on a fast lead, but the perseverance of the Cougars would give them game one, 13-8. In game two, both teams had put up a major fight, but a lack of sunlight would stop the game, needing to be concluded at a later date.
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Game One
Inside the Box Score:
- Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) went four for five at the plate in game one, picking up two runs and four RBIs for the Cougars.
- Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) went three for three at the plate and collected one run and one RBI.
- Alyssa Campos (Eastvale, Calif.) went two for four at the plate, tacking a run to the board and collecting three RBIs.
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Here's What Happened
- To open up game one, a Regent singled to shortstop and was able to advance to second off of a wild pitch. This was followed up by some great plays; a Regent singled to left field, allowing another Regent to score the first run of the game. Two Regents were able to pound out two home runs, allowing for three additional runs, ending the top of the first with a substantial lead. As the Cougars got behind their bats, Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) was hit by a pitch, getting her to first; Haley Gulsby (Englewood, Fla.) was then out with a sacrificial bunt to the pitcher, but Garcia was able to advance to second. Santos then hit a single to shortstop. Hadzic then proceeded to hit a double down the left field line, advancing Santos to third and getting Garcia home for the Cougars' first run.Â
- To continue, McKyler Morris (Belvidere, Ill.) was then hit by a pitch, advancing her and loading the bases. Campos singled up the middle, helping advance Morris to second and both Santos and Hadzic were able to bring in two runs. After that, Mayah Larenas (Chino, Calif.) got walked and Campos and Morris were able to get into scoring position. Linley Southern (Decatur, Ill.) then singled to center field, advancing both Morris and Santos - Morris then scoring a run, tying up the game. Campos was able to score yet another run for the Cougars after a hit from Eliza Auger (Littleton, Colo.). The Cougars took the lead, 5-4.
- The second inning began with a single from a Regent into left field. A Regent then reached first off of a throwing error by first, where a previous runner advanced to third on the error. A Regent then reached first off of a fielder's choice to shortstop and advanced to second; a Regent was able to advance to third while another was able to score. A Regent was then walked, allowing all runners to advance and a run to be scored. Another Regent got walked, letting another run on the board. Things got interesting as the Cougars got their bats swinging as Gulsby got walked; Alaina Pilas (Chicago, Ill.) came in to pinch run for Santos as she singled down the left field line, advancing to second on the throw while Gulsby advanced to third. Pilas then advanced to third and was able to score off of a throwing error from the catcher, Gulsby also being able to score. Morris came to bat and singled to third; Campos then singled to right center field, advancing Morris to third while Hadzic scored. The rest of the inning ran by quickly, the Cougars still leading 8-7.
- Heading into the third inning, a Regent was hit by a pitch, followed up by a Regent singling up the middle, advancing the previous runner to second. A Regent then singled to first, where runners advanced to scoring position; a Regent was able to reach first off of a fielder's choice to third, advancing a runner to second, but getting the lead Regent out at home. At the bottom of the third, Gulsby was able to reach first off of an error by left field and advanced to second. Pilas then singled to the pitcher with a bunt and Gulsby advanced to third, leaving runners in the corners. Hadzic then hit a double to center field, advancing Pilas to third and helping Gulsby to score. Morris then followed this with a walk; off of a wild pitch, both Morris and Hadzic advanced and Pilas got a run in. By the end of the inning, the Cougars had built their lead 10-7.
- Shortly after, in the fourth inning, a Regent started off by getting walked. A Regent then singled to left field, advancing a previous Regent to second. A Regent then proceeded to single to right field, advancing a Regent to third and allowing another to score. The Cougars' time behind the bats was short-lived as they were pulled out by the Regents; they continued to lead at 10-8.
- Things remained quiet in the fifth inning as both teams worked to get each other out, the score remaining the same going into the sixth inning.Â
- The Cougars worked hard to get off the field and back on the offensive side as they collected their outs right away. At the bottom of the sixth, Julia Pataluna (Commerce City, Colo.) came in to pinch hit for Larenas and got walked; Auger sacrificed herself for an out while Pataluna advanced to second. Garcia was then hit by a pitch, followed up by Gulsby hitting a double to left field, allowing both Pataluna and Garcia to score. Santos, who came in to pinch hit for Pilas, singled to right field while Gulsby made it to home for another run. Nothing more came of the inning as it closed up, the Cougars rounding up their lead at 13-8.
- The final inning sealed the deal with quick outs from the Cougars, giving them game one, 13-8.
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The Cougars turned the tables on the Regents, grabbing the reins and taking game one, 13-8.
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Game Two
Inside the Box Score
- Santos went three for three at the plate in game two, grabbing a run for the Cougars.
- Hadzic had a showstopping performance, going two for four at the plate, collecting two runs and two RBIs.
- Campos also showed off her skills, going two for four at the plate in game two, tacking on two runs and grabbing an RBI.
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Here's What Happened
- The Regent struck in the first inning as a Regent got walked; a Regent singled up the middle while a previous runner advanced to second. Another Regent then got walked, loading up the bases. A Regent was hit by a pitch, advancing all of the runners, allowing a Regent to score the first run of game two. A Regent then hit a home run to left center field, allowing for a staggering four runs to build up the Regent lead. Another Regent got walked, followed up with a Regent hitting a single to center field, allowing for another Regent run. The Regent got on the field and opened up their time by allowing Garcia to get walked. Santos then doubled to left center field, putting both her and Garcia in scoring position. Off of a wild pitch, Santos was able to advance to third and Garcia crossed home plate, collecting a run. Outs would close the inning, the Regents took the lead 6-1.
- For the second inning, two consecutive singles to left field would put runners on first and second. A Regent then singled to right field, advancing a runner to second and one to home for a run. Megan Bouska (Plainfield, Ill.) worked soundly, getting a pair of strikeouts to avoid any further damage on the Cougars. The Cougars came to bat, with one out on the board, Larenas was walked to place a runner on first. Gulsby and Larenas eventually got to scoring position but the idea of a run was shut down as the inning came to an end, Regents leading 7-1.
- The top of the third went by quickly as the Regents were taken out from behind the bats, the Cougars ready to retaliate.Santos, doubled to left field, where Pilas came in to pinch run, quickly advancing to third off of a wild pitch. Campos then doubled to right center field, helping Pilas score. Morris then proceeded to hit a double to right center field, allowing Campos to get a run in. Morris then advanced to third off of a wild pitch; Auger then came in and singled to center field, helping Morris to score while she went on to steal second. The last two batters were out, ending the inning, the Cougars approaching the Regents with new runs, 7-4.
- The game broke open in the fourth inning as a Regent hit a solo home run to center field, grabbing a quick run. A Regent then hit a single to center field, advancing to second after a sacrifice bunt got their teammate out at first. A Regent then advanced to third off of another wild pitch and another Regent got walked. A Regent then doubled to left field, where a Regent advanced to third and another Regent scored. The Cougars came in to bat, but their opportunity fizzled away as the Regents got their batters out fast, closing the inning, 9-4.
- Katie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) pitched to impress in the fifth inning as she worked for two strikeouts. A Regent eventually got walked. Another then hit a home run to left field, helping two Regents cross home plate for two runs. The Cougars grabbed motivation from Davis as they came to bat as Hadzic singled to right field, followed up by a double to left field from Campos, advancing Hadzic to third. Esmeralda Luevano (Chicago, Ill.) came in to pinch hit for Larenas as she singled to third, advancing Auger and Campos, letting Hadzic score one run. Southern then came in and hit to left field for an out, but Campos was able to score off of the distraction. As the inning came to an end, the Regents remained in the lead at 11-6.
- The top of the sixth inning started out with a Regent singling up the middle, who advanced to second off of an error by center field while another Regent got walked. The Cougars then worked to get their lead runners out, a Regent getting out at third, preventing a run. As the teams switched places, Santos came back in to pinch hit for Pilas and singled to left field. Hadzic ended up hitting a home run to center field, getting both her and Santos across home plate for two runs for the Cougars. The Regents put a stop to the Cougars offensive surge, remaining in the lead 11-8, heading into the seventh.
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With the sun beginning to set; the darkness halted game two and the teams will continue the game at a later date that will be determined soon. At this time, game two of the double-header is suspended with the Regents ahead, 11-8.
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What's Next
The team will be back in action on Wednesday, April 8th, welcoming the Cardinals of North Central College to their home field for a mid-week doubleheader. Coverage for all things Cougar softball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.Â
