May 18, 2016 - The opening day of the NCAA III Midwest Regional in LaCrosse, WI saw the four winning teams put up some lofty numbers on offense. That included the Concordia-Chicago Cougars, who pounded out 14 hits and squashed the Hornets of Kalamazoo College by a final score of 14-2.

Starting from the very first inning, the Cougars unleashed the lumber at the home of the LaCrosse Loggers. Bryan VanDuser (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) lined a solid single to right-center to start the proceedings. One out later, Andrew Massey (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) grounded the first pitch just past the second baseman. By the time the ball was tracked down in right-centerfield, Massey was sliding in with a double, and a streaking VanDuser never broke stride as he came home with the gaqme's first run. Brent Spohr (Ingleside, IL/Grant Community) then lined the first of his three hits on the night to leftfield, scoring Massey. Mitch Wilson (Oswego, IL/H.S.) walked, and Grant Davis (Morris, IL/Morris Community) singled to load the bases and bring Kevin Coppin (Lisle, IL/H.S.) to the plate. Coppin looped a single over the second baseman, scoring Spohr. Wilson tried to follow, but he was cut down at the plate on a strong throw by the rightfielder; nevertheless, CUC led 3-0 after one.

It appeared as if there would be smooth sailing after CUC starter Eric Palmer (Melrose Park, IL/West Leyden) set down seven of the first eight Hornets' batters. But with one out in the third, Ryan Orr reached on an infield single for Kalamazoo's first hit. Palmer then walked the next three batters, forcing in a run before CUC head coach Mike Stawski made the call to the bullpen for expected Thursday starter Mike Formella (Homer Glen, IL/Lockport Township).

"We were worried because Eric really hadn't had any issues since his Tommy John surgery a few years ago," said Stawski. "As it turned out, it was just a little tightness, probably caused by fatigue after pitching Saturday. We expect that he will be fine."

The game tightened up after Formella walked the first batter he faced to force in another run and make it a 3-2 contest. But the Cougars escaped further damage. when the next batter hit a line drive to Wilson at second base. Wilson quickly threw to first to double off the runner there, and the Cougars' first of four double plays they would turn on the night kept CUC in the lead.

Rising to the challenge, the Cougars got those two runs back in the bottom of the third. Spohr singled to right, and Wilson doubled to the gap in left-center. Davis then grounded one to shortstop, Spohr breaking for the plate. He would score easily, and Wilson was able to follow when the shortstop's throw to first got by the first baseman.

The Cougars then leveled the Hornets with a six-spot in the fourth. An error started the inning, and Joe Silva (Arlington Heights, IL/Hersey) followed with a base hit to right. Massey then rifled a shot past the third baseman and down the line, scoring VanDuser and chasing the Kalamazoo starting pitcher. Spohr greeted the new pitcher with his third hit in as many at-bats, an RBI single to left. Wilson walked to load the bases for Davis, who hit one to leftfield, just a few feet inside the foul line. Two runs scored to make the score 9-2, and Coppin and Andrew Kroncke (St. Charles, IL/St. Charles North) added sacrifice flies to cap off the inning and give the Cougars a nine-run lead after four.

The CUC pitching took care of the rest. Formella pitched a strong fifth inning, retiring the Hornets in the fifth on an infield pop-up and two strikeouts. He would get the win to improve to 8-2 on the season. Senior Nick Barnhill (Normal, IL/Normal West) pitched the final four innings to earn the save, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out a pair.

Two runs in the eighth put the icing on the cake for the Cougars. Silva and Massey singled, with Massey's hit getting by the centerfielder for an extra two bases. Spohr's sacrifice fly, his third RBI of the game, ended the scoring.

With the win, Concordia-Chicago (33-11) will play Luther College of Iowa in a winner's bracket game on Thursday night at 7:45 p.m. The Norse edged North Central College 8-6 in an earlier game. Other results and the regional's updated schedule can be found on the official Midwest Regional web page.