May 20, 2016 - Prior to the game, tonight's Midwest Regional semifinal between Concordia University Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse had the feeling of a heavyweight fight in which several punches would be exchanged and the decision would go to the one who had the better endurance. Instead, this bout was decided early as the host Eagles hit the Cougars with a seven-run first inning and set the tone for what would eventually finish as a 12-3 Eagles' win.

Concordia-Chicago had the chance to land the first shot in the opening inning. After retiring the leadoff batter, UWL starter Jameson Lavery walked Joe Silva (Arlington Heights, IL/Hersey) on four pitches. Andrew Massey (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) was next, and he lined a shot to left for the Cougars' first hit, advancing Silva to second. However, Lavery regrouped and struck out the Cougars' four and five hitters to get his team in the dugout. 

LaCrosse came up for their initial at-bats, and trouble ensued immediately as the Eagles' first two hitters reached base on walks. That brought Taylor Kohlwey to the plate, and Kohlwey promptly extended his hitting streak to 48 games (third longest in NCAA history) with a double to left-center to drive in the first run. Mike Formella (Homer Glen, IL/Lockport Township) then settled down and retired the next two batters on a grounder to shortstop and a fly to right. While a run scored on each play, the bases were now empty with two out, and it appeared as if the Cougars might escape the inning down only three. However, the next six hitters reached base and accounted for four more runs before Kohlwey was retired on a fly to center to end a lengthy first inning.

While the Cougars found themselves in a big hole, they were not without chances to get back into the hunt. After Adam Schmitt (Peoria, IL/Limestone) entered the game in the bottom of the second and shut down the hosts over the next two innings. The Cougars went to work in the fourth. Mitch Wilson (Oswego, IL/H.S.) led off with a single and, one out later, Kevin Coppin (Lisle, IL/H.S.) grounded a single to left. Andrew Kroncke (St. Charles, IL/St. Charles North) then battled Lavery in a great at-bat, going to a full count before lining a single to right that scored Wilson. Colin Bethran (Schaumburg, IL/H.S.) followed with a first-pitch single between third and short to bring home Coppin, and the Cougars trailed by a not-insurmountable five runs at 7-2.

The Eagles pulled back a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Cougars threatened again in the fifth. After one out, Jacob Frank (Chicago, IL/Loyola Academy) walked and Wilson singled. Grant Davis (Morris, IL/Morris Community) then hit a slow chopper to short; the shortstop rushed his throw into the dirt, and Davis was safe at first to load the bases. Just as the UWL bullpen was beginning to stir, a 6-4-3 double play took Lavery and the Eagles out of trouble as they held the 8-2 lead at the midway point of the game.

LaCrosse put the game away with three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, although Schmitt did a fine job in keeping CUC from blowing out the bullpen. Schmitt pitched a total of six innings before Rob Lock (Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius) finished up by hurling the eighth inning. The Cougars scored the final run of the game in their half of the eighth as Bethran led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a pair of infield outs.

The Cougars (34-12) are faced with winning three consecutive games now if they are to advance to the Division III World Series. Their first step will be at noon on Saturday when they play St. John's (MN) University who eliminated Luther College 5-4 in 10 innings late Friday night.  A win in that game would advance them to the championship round against LaCrosse at 3:30 where they would have to win twice (the final game being Sunday at noon if necessary).