RIVER FOREST, Ill. --- Behind the best offensive output of the 2022 season, the Concordia University Chicago baseball team picked up a 12-7 non-conference win over North Park on Monday afternoon. The Cougars pounded out 14 hits and got four and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief from Chris Villafuerte in the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Garry Maynard had his best day of the season, going 3-5 with four RBIs.
- Colton Wallace went 2-4 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
- Aidan Donovan went 4-5 with three runs scored and two doubles.
- Chris Villafuerte picked up his first win of the season, working 4.2 innings of relief. He did not allow a hit.
The Vikings got the day started, scoring an unearned run in the top of the first. After stranding runners in the first, CUC was able to plate the tying run in the second. With one out Donovan doubled to center. Two outs later Jaime Sandoval singled through the left side, which brought Donovan around to score. Concordia then took their first lead of the day in the third. Wallace doubled left-center to open the inning. After a wild pitch, Wallace came into score on an RBI groundout to make it 2-1 CUC.
North Park responded with two runs on a two-run shot over the left-field wall to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth. The Cougars had the answer again in the bottom half. Donovan and Tyler Krater both singled to open the inning. After a walk loaded the bases, a sac fly tied the game at three. Wallace followed with a single to left to give CUC a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch then put two in scoring position for Maynard, who singled through the right side on a 2-1 pitch scoring two. CUC threatened more in the inning but found themselves leading 6-3 after four.
NPU took the lead back in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs on just one hit. They were aided with two CUC errors in the inning.
Concordia took the lead back for good in the bottom of the fifth. With one out Krater singled to left. Sandoval followed with a single to left, scoring Krater. A walk and a wild pitch put two in scoring position for CUC with one out, and a sac fly by Wallace made it 8-7 Cougars.
CUC added on insurance runs in the late innings. In the seventh Maynard drove home Eli Hickman with a single up the middle. The Cougars broke things open in the eighth. After an error put one on, Donovan tucked a ball just inside the first baseline for a double, scoring one. One out later a sac fly made it 11-7 CUC. Concordia added one more in the inning when a strikeout got passed the NPU catcher and Hickman raced in to score.
The Cougars will return to action on Tuesday evening when they head to Lee Pfund Stadium to take on Wheaton College. The first pitch is set for 5:00 pm. You can find links to coverage at cucougars.com/coverage. You can keep up with the team on Twitter @CUCBaseball.