Cougars defend home turf, advance

More news about: Concordia-Chicago

River Forest, Ill.-Concordia-Chicago (41-8; 21-1) took on Baldwin Wallace (27-16; 14-4) in the final game of the NCAA Regional. The winner of this matchup would go onto face Webster University in the Super Regional. CUC would come out on top 5-3 and complete the journey all the way from the loser's bracket to win the championship.

Inside the Box Score:

  • Brody Mariotti (3-5) ripped two doubles to pace the Cougar offense.
  • CUC doubled BW's hit totals and won the hitting battle 13-6
  • Unlike the Sunday matchup, there were only four combined extra base hits.

Baldwin Wallace once again was first to start the scoring after a Tony LoParo sacrifice fly in the second inning. After trailing 1-0, the Cougars broke into the scoring column in a big way in the third inning. Five consecutive hits, including a Keegan Tyrell RBI double and gutsy baserunning, propelled CUC to a 5-1 lead.

The Yellow Jackets stole back two runs in the bottom of the third with a wild pitch and RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3. A pair of baserunning mistakes would hold Baldwin Wallace from scoring in two separate innings and keep them from scoring until the eighth inning.

From there, the pitching staff for the Yellow Jackets, and Cole Carman for the Cougars helped put zeroes on the scoreboard for both teams all the way through the eighth inning. Carman only allowed three hits through his six innings.

Carman would shut the door with three straight outs and Concordia-Chicago would win the Regional tournament along with earning a bid to the Super Regional against Webster.

CUC will face off against Webster University on Friday, May 24, at noon in the first game of the NCAA Super Regional.