VERONA, Wis. – The Edgewood College Eagles softball squad returned home for a pivotal Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) tilt on Friday. They hosted the Concordia Chicago Cougars for a doubleheader. The Cougars (13-12-1, 5-4-1 NACC) took advantage of shaky defense and pitching from the Eagles (13-12, 3-6) to down them in 8-0 (5 innings) and 9-6 fashion.

GAME ONE: CONCORDIA CHICAGO 8, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 0 (5 INNINGS)
- The Cougars did all of their damage in two innings, but it was enough. A single to center field followed by an error by the shortstop left things at 2-0 after three.

- Six crossed home in the third. A single to right field brought in one of two in scoring position, while the Cougars took advantage of a fielder's choice to make it 4-0. A double down the left field line and a single to center field tacked on a pair, while another error by the shortstop left things at 8-0 Concordia Chicago.

- Natalie Fields came in to settle things down with a pair of three up, three down innings, but the Eagles offense only got one base runner on in the fourth and fifth to fall to the run rule.

- Ashley Shroll threw a gem of a game, allowing two hits in a shutout.

GAME TWO: CONCORDIA CHICAGO 9, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 6
- The second tilt seemed to sing a different tune to start. An error by the first baseman started a three-run first, while Elizabeth Malarski was hit by a pitch to tally another. Grace Ott sent a single into left field to score another. Haylee Kasuboski scored another with a sacrifice fly in the second, while Alyse Maurer left things at 5-0 Eagles after two with a single to left.

- The Cougars rallied in the third and fourth. A single to left center sent in a pair of unearned runs, while another single to right put home two more. Both came with two outs in the third. Olivia Hebert temporarily stemmed the bleeding with a sacrifice fly to left field to let Edgewood College hold onto a 6-4 advantage.

- Concordia Chicago took control in the fourth. An error on a bunt put another run on the board, while a single to center field gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead.
 
- Shroll menaced the Eagles once more, fanning three in 3.2 innings pitched and shutting down Edgewood College in the later stages of the game. A solo shot to left field in the fifth and a double to left in the seventh put a bow on the doubleheader sweep for Concordia Chicago.

- Shroll earned a save for her efforts. Gaby Slater threw four in relief, holding the high-power Cougar offense to three runs.

- Jenna Sanchez and Ott were highlights in the lineup. Sanchez hit two-of-four, while Ott swung two-of-three.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Eagles have lost four in a row and are 2-6 in their last eight.

- Concordia Chicago now leads the all-time series 24-11 and has won three of the last four.

UP NEXT
Edgewood College looks to bounce back with a trip to Milwaukee. They are scheduled to face the MSOE Raiders for another NACC doubleheader starting at noon. The Raiders lead the all-time series 41-24 and have won six straight.