LISLE, ILL. – One game away from seeing their season come to an end, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars responded with the grit and fight that has defined their season. After suffering a crushing 19-3 loss to open the day against Benedictine University, the Cougars bounced back in dramatic fashion with a pair of elimination-game victories, including a walkoff win over Illinois Tech and a comeback thriller against Benedictine, to keep their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament run alive and punch their ticket into Saturday's action.
GAME ONE: 4-3 W
INSIDE THE BOX
- Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led at the plate going two-for-three with two runs and two RBIS while being intentionally walked twice. His two hits were both multi-base hits after he launched a home run and a triple in the do-or-die game.
- Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) went two-for-five at the plate and was responsible for the walkoff double that secured the CUC victory and the continuation of the season.
- Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill.) also went two-for-four at the plate, picking up crucial hits.
- Two arms dished on the mound with Ryan Renella (Bartlett, Ill.) going five innings with five strikeouts and Kyle Connelly (New Lenox, Ill.) going four innings with three strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars got to work early in the bottom of the first after J. Mahler would launch a solo home run on a two-out rally to put them ahead 1-0 early on. Things would stay stagnant until the top of the fifth where the Scarlet Hawks would jump ahead 2-1 and take the lead for the first time of the day.
- A scoreless bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth would send things back to the Cougar offense where a leadoff single for Brendan Holloway (Vernon Hills, Ill.) paired with a triple from J. Mahler would score another and put the Cougars up 2-1. Immediately after, B. Mahler would launch a double and extend the Cougars lead out to 3-2.
- CUC would leave the bases loaded, but head to the top of the seventh with a small, but comfortable lead. The Eagles would tack on one run in the top of the seventh and hand things back to the Cougar offense. All knotted up by the end of the game, Holloway would find himself in scoring position after a double tor right field. J. Mahler would be intentionally walked to bring his brother up to the plate who would make Illinois Tech regret the decision as he would send a walkoff win to center field.
HIGHLIGHTS
GAME TWO: 10-8 W
INSIDE THE BOX
- J. Mahler went a perfect three-for-three at the plate with three RBIs, two runs, and three walks.
- B. Mahler would go one-for-two after being intentionally walked four times, robbing him of opportunities to hit.
- Linko would supply the only other multi-hitter in the game, going three-for-six at th plate.
- Jack Carroll (North Aurora, Ill.), Matthew Licardi (Peoria, Ariz.), and Connelly all worked on the mound for a combined ten strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Playing as the away team for the first time in the tournament, the Cougars got going early with a leadoff single for Buckley paired with a walk for J. Mahler and a single to left field from B. Mahler give Buckley time to score and put the Cougars ahead 2-0.
- The Eagles would strike back right away, tacking on three runs while CUC would sit scoreless until the top of the sixth. Fourt hits, split between Richie Sperando (Darien, Ill.), J. Mahler, and Linko mixed with walks for B. Mahler and Owens would load the bases up and allow the Cougars to inch closer, tacking on three runs on four hits, now trailing 8-6.
- The Cougars would stay trailing until the top of the seventh, where a double for J. Mahler would score one and leave room for B. Mahler to be intentionally walked yet again.
- CUC would tack on their tying and go ahead runs in the top of the eighth off a leadoff back-to-back walks put two runners on. A single from Buckley wold allow the bases to load up where a single from J. Mahler would score two and give the Cougars the 9-8 lead, their first since the first inning of the game.
- The insurance run would come after a wild pitch would give Buckley plenty of time to cross home. Six outs in seven batters across two innings go things moving, but the Cougars remained on top to fight their way to the Saturday games.
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
The Cougars will continue their run in the NACC Tournament as they face the #2 seed in Milwaukee School of Engineering at 4:00 pm. If they win that game, they'll also play at 7:00 pm where they would take on Aurora University. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
