February 25, 2017- Looking to get things on back on track on the Texas trip, the Concordia-Chicago Cougars had a quick turnaround after the tough loss to Concordia-Texas just thirty minutes prior to taking on the Southwestern Pirates. Runs were tough to come by for the early part of the contest, but CUC would do a good job grabbing the lead and adding too it. The story of the night though was the starting pitching from Keaton Conner who went seven and two thirds innings allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out seven. Brian Musielak then made his first appearance of 2017 closing the door on the 5-1 win. "We are excited to get that first win," remarked Head Coach Mike Stawski. "It's usually the hardest of the year. We are not looking back and not looking ahead. We are living in the moment right now so all of our focus is on Southwestern tomorrow."

"What an effort by Keaton Conner, said Stawski. "We needed someone to just go out and put the team on their back and tonight it was Keaton. I'm very proud of him."

 
It was a pitcher's duel early as the sun went down over Tornado Stadium. Conner and Southwestern starting pitcher Jeremy Rice combined to strike out 11 hitters through the first six innings, and neither surrendered an earned run.
 
It was the Cougars though who were able to take advantage of Southwestern's mistakes in the bottom of the sixth. Bryan VanDuser led off the inning getting plunked by a pitch. He promptly stole second. Joe Silva drew a walk putting runners at first and second. A sac bunt by Brady Roberts but the two runners into scoring position with one out. After an infield popup, Mitch Wilson laced a ball into centerfield that went off of the centerfielder's glove allowing both VanDuser and Silva to score easily making it 2-0 CUC.
 
CUC tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Kevin Coppin reached on an error. One out later, Brenden Klein reached on an infield single. The throw then got away from the pitcher allowing Coppin and Klein to advance into scoring position. Silva picked up his first hit of the night at an opportune time to centerfield scoring both Coppin and Klein to make it 4-0 Cougars.
 
Southwestern was able to pick up an unearned run in the top half of the eighth, but CUC answered quickly in the bottom half. With one away Wilson doubled down the leftfield line. Pinch hitter Andrew Massey then followed suit with a double of his own to left scoring Wilson standing up.
 
Conner exited the game with two outs in the eighth after an impressive first appearance. He gave way to Musielak who shut the door on Southwestern over the last inning and a third, allowing just one hit preserving the 5-1 win. The Cougar offense had seven hits in the game, each coming from a different player.
 
The Cougars look to pick up their second win of the trip when they take on Southwestern to close out the opening weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00am from Tornado Stadium in Austin.