Game 5: Concordia Chicago 8, Benedictine 0
ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Matt Kudlik pitched a complete game four hitter as Concordia Chicago defeated top seed Benedictine 8-0 to advance to the Northern Athletics Conference Championship game. It was the Cougars second win over Benedictine in the last two days, bouncing the Eagles from the tournament.

Concordia Chicago used a four run eighth inning to extend their lead to 7-0. Zach Tropp hit a two RBI single after the Eagles intentionally walked two batters to load the bases. Later in the inning, the Cougars number nine hitter Garret Balind singled, driving in two more runs pushing their lead to 7-0.

The Cougars got on the board in the second after Brandon Isaac and Jack Walker would lead off the inning with base hits to move in scoring position. Concordia Chicago would score single runs in the fifth and sixth innings as well, before exploding for four in the eighth. The Cougars would tack on an insurance run in the ninth to push the score to 8-0.

Four Cougars had multiple hits as the team pounded out 13 hits on the day. J.D. Rotzoll, who came into the game eight-for-nine during the tournament, went two-for-five after starting off the game zero-for-three. Matt Kudlik (6-1) pitches his first complete game shutout of the season, striking out nine and picking up the win for the Cougars. Benedictine’s Kennedy Grear (5-3) is saddled with the loss, pitching seven innings and allowing two earned runs while striking out five.

The win sends Concordia Chicago (31-12) to the championship game where they will face defending NAC champion Rockford College. The Cougars will need to win two against the Regents to win the conference title while the Regents need just one win to take home the title. Benedictine (26-17) ends their season with the loss.

Courtesy of Edgewood College, Sports Information Department, May 10, 2008.