RIVER FOREST, Ill. --- Behind two huge starting pitching performances, the Concordia University Chicago baseball team swept the Benedictine University Eagles on Friday afternoon. The Cougars scored early in game one and then were able to ride strong pitching by Jack Rector and Vincent Sartori to a 12-5 win. Then in game two CUC grabbed the lead midway through, then gave the ball to Westin Stutzman and Wyatt McLaughlin for the 5-2 win.

GAME ONE

While Rector was dealing on the mound, CUC was able to get him run support in the bottom of the first. Howie Hatton led off the inning taking the first pitch deep into left-center for a double. Elijah Hickman followed with a bunt single to put two on. After a hit batter loaded the bases, an RBI groundout gave CUC the lead. Concordia added on in the inning when Brody Mariotti singled to left center scoring two, giving CUC a 3-0 lead.

Benedictine picked up a run in the top of the fifth on a two-out hit to pull within 3-1. The Eagles then made it 3-2 in the top of the sixth, scoring an unearned run when a ball was dropped in the outfield.

CUC added on insurance in a big way in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Garry Maynard singled through the left side. Two walks followed loading the bases. Matthew Uba earned an RBI the easy way by working a full-count walk to extend the CUC lead to 4-2. It then became 5-2 Cougars on a Caleb Anderson single right back up the middle. Concordia kept adding on in the inning when Christian Jacob snuck a double just inside the third-base line scoring three.

The Eagles fought back in the top of the seventh, plating three runs on four hits. However, CUC was able to blow the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh. The first two CUC batters were able to reach in the inning to get things rolling. One out later a Kevin Garcia single to center brought home a run to make it 9-5 CUC.  The Cougars weren't done there, adding on three more in the inning with the big swing being an Uba single down the first base that made it 11-5 CUC.

CUC added on one final run on a Maynard single in the bottom of the eighth, leading to the 12-5 final score. Rector worked six innings in the win, allowing just one earned run on three hits. Vincent Sartori picked up his second save of the season by working three shutout innings, allowing just two hits to go along with five strikeouts.

GAME TWO

After Stutzman worked through the first, CUC was able to get on the board in the bottom half. Hatton led off with a single to right-center and promptly stole second. After a walk put two on, a flyout to right gave Hatton the chance to advance to third, he then came into score when the throw got away from the third basemen.

Benedictine answered back with a solo homer to right in the top of the second. CUC grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the fourth. Maynard led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. After a flyout advanced Maynard to third, he was able to scamper home on a wild pitch to give Concordia the 2-1 lead.

After the Eagle tied the game in the top of the sixth, CUC answered one final time. With one out, three straight singles loaded the bases. A sac fly made it 3-2 CUC and a Jacob single through the right side extended the lead. A wild pitch then allowed Uba to come around to score, making it 5-2 CUC.

Stutzman picked up the win, working six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out four. McLaughlin then picked up his second save of the season, allowing just two hits over three scoreless innings of work.

The Cougars will look to keep pace in the NACC playoff race on Sunday afternoon when they head to Rockford for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00pm. You can find links to coverage at cucougars.com/coverage.