February 17, 2017- Finally the long awaited first pitch would come tonight for the #10 Concordia-Chicago Cougar baseball team. For the second straight season, they would open the season in Austin, Texas on the campus of Concordia-Texas. CUC would open against the Tornados tonight. The Cougars would strike first, but the Tornados would answer with five runs in the bottom of the third all with two outs. That would be enough coupled along with good pitching for CUTX to spoil the season opener for CUC by a final score of 8-2.
 
The Cougars got off to an ideal start in the top half of the second. Brent Spohr led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Mitch Wilson then had a quality at bat moving Spohr over to third with one away. Brady Roberts then drove home the Cougars first run of the 2017 season with a sinking single to left that scored Spohr from third, giving CUC the early 1-0 lead.
 
Cody Caballero got the opening day call to the mound for CUC. After working around a one out walk in the first, the Tornados were able to scratch the tying run across in the second. With one out, CUTX singled three straight times with two going to right field tying the score at one. Caballero would end the Tornado threat in the inning with a fly out and a big strikeout looking.
 
Concordia-Texas was not done there though. After the Cougars went down in order in the top of the third, CUTX was able to bring five across the plate all with two outs. A hit by pitch and a walk put runners on first and second with one out.  A groundball to Mitch Wilson at second base moved both runners into scoring position with two outs. A double down the left field line then made it 3-1. The Tornados then used a single and a triple to bring home three more, forcing the Cougars to bring Mike Formella out of the bullpen. He would end the long third inning with a strike out.
 
CUTX picked up insurance runs in both the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings making it 8-1. The Cougars were able to get runners on, but the Tornados were able to induce three double plays in the game to keep the high-powered Cougar offense under wraps. CUC did pick up a second run in the top of the ninth when Sphor brought home Andrew Massey who led the inning off with a triple to right.

"We got a lot of what we expected tonight," remarked head coach Mike Stawski following the game. " Lots of anxious guys wanting to play really well in game one. There are lots of positives to take out of that game. Especially for game one." 
 
Formella worked two and a third innings of relief giving up one earned run. Petar Arbov worked the final three innings for CUC allowing just two hits and one unearned run. Offensively CUC finished with seven hits in the game led by Spohr and Roberts with two each.
 
The Cougars (0-1) will look to rebound tomorrow where they will take on Concordia Texas again at 1:00pm before taking on Southwestern University at 4:00pm.